Griff Witte And Dan Balz The Washington Post

A day after British voters defied widespread warnings of economic and political peril should they cut ties with the European Union, the country reckoned with the consequences as markets tanked across the globe, the prime minister said he would resign and the United Kingdom felt the renewed pressure of a breakup.

After 15 hours of voting, from the remote Scottish isles to the tip of Gibraltar, Britain on Thursday braced for a momentous choice as officials began counting ballots in a referendum that could reshape the country's place in Europe and radiate economic, political and security implications across the globe.

A day after British voters defied widespread warnings of economic and political peril should they cut ties with the European Union, the country reckoned with the consequences as markets tanked across the globe, the prime minister said he would resign and the United Kingdom felt the renewed pressure of a breakup.

After 15 hours of voting, from the remote Scottish isles to the tip of Gibraltar, Britain on Thursday braced for a momentous choice as officials began counting ballots in a referendum that could reshape the country's place in Europe and radiate economic, political and security implications across the globe.