SOMERSET NEWS: Nearly 56 per cent of voters in the county wanted to leave the EU

THE EU Referendum divided a nation and that picture was mirrored across Somerset throughout the night as the results were announced.

The overall result of the historic referendum held yesterday (Thursday, June 23, 2016) has seen the Leave campaigners win with 51.9 per cent of the vote as opposed to the Remain supporters who gained 48.1 per cent.

Out of a total electorate of 46,501,241 the Leave side gained 17,410,742 votes – 1,269,501 more than Remain who polled 16,141,241.

The five district council areas of Somerset all held their own counts during the night – as opposed to parliamentary constituencies.

And all but the Mendips voted in favour of Leave.

The biggest victory for the Leave campaign was in Sedgemoor where they gained 61.2 per cent of the votes.

West Somerset polled 60.6 per cent for Leave, South Somerset polled 57.2 per cent and Taunton Deane 52.9 per cent.

The only victory in Somerset for Remain was Mendips where they polled 51.1 per cent of the votes cast in that district.

The margin of success for Leave in Somerset was slightly more than the national figure with them gaining 55.7 per cent (178,794) of the 320,803 votes cast in the county as opposed to Remain who polled 44.3 per cent (142,009).

The national turnout figure was 72.2 per cent – a figure surpassed in all of the five district council areas of Somerset with a high of 79.1 per cent in West Somerset.

Now we will all have to wait and see what happens in the days, weeks, months and years ahead to see if the right decision has been made.

Somerset results at a glance:

Mendips: REMAIN: Leave 48.9 per cent (32,028 votes). Remain 51.1 per cent (33,427 votes). Turnout 76.9 per cent.

Sedgemoor: LEAVE: Leave 61.2 per cent (41,869 votes). Remain 38.8 per cent (26,545 votes). Turnout 76.3 per cent.

South Somerset: LEAVE: Leave 57.2 per cent (56,940 votes). Remain 42.8 per cent (42,527) votes. Turnout 78.6 per cent.

Taunton Deane: LEAVE: 52.9 per cent (34,789 votes). Remain 47.1 per cent (30,944 votes). Turnout 78.1 per cent.

West Somerset: LEAVE: Leave 60.6 per cent (13,168 votes). Remain 39.4 per cent (8,566 votes). Turnout 79.1 per cent.

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