Live Brexit vote coverage

Floods hit London as Britain votes in a referendum on whether it should quit the EU bloc it joined 43 years ago.

Ad that concludes tonight’s live coverage. Polls have opened in Britain for a referendum on whether the country should quit the European Union bloc it joined 43 years ago. British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the Brexit vote in 2013.

Live Coverage resumes from 7am.

10.20pm:What does Europe think?

Denmark’s prime minister says “it would be a tough job” to work out what would happen if British voters decide to leave the European Union.

Lars Loekke Rasmussen says work would start Friday, adding he hopes for “a peaceful divorce” should Britain leave the bloc that it joined at the same time as Danes in 1973. The Scandinavian nation has opted out of parts of EU treaties for fear of losing sovereignty but it has no plans for a membership referendum. Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende, whose country twice has rejected EU membership, wrote Thursday on Twitter “Fingers crossed for (hashtag) remain.” The oil-rich nation has signed up to the European Economic Area agreement and thereby access to the EU’s huge single market.

9.50pm:One eye on ‘Scoxit’?

In Glasgow, many voters said they wanted Britain to stay in the European Union but were well aware that an overall Brexit result could lead to Scottish independence.

The pro-EU SNP, which dominates Scottish politics, still wants independence but says it will only call for another referendum if a clear majority of Scots back it after a Brexit vote.

Polls have shown Scots are far more favourable to the EU than fellow Britons, who are heavily divided.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland’s expected massive vote for staying in the EU could hold the balance on a national level.

Chelsea pensioners arrive at a polling station near to the Royal Chelsea Hospital, London, to vote. Picture: AP

9.20pm:British pound rallies

The British pound and stock markets are rallying in morning trading in Europe, an indication that investors are betting that Britain is more likely to vote to “remain” in the European Union. The pound was up 1.1 percent on the day, at $1.4874, the highest level so far this year. Britain’s benchmark stock index, the FTSE 100, was up 1.6 percent at 6,362.

9pm: In Pictures: Decision day

Britain votes on Brexit

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8.40pm:New poll puts Remain ahead

The campaign to keep Britain in the European Union has a narrow lead, according to a new opinion poll just released.

The Ipsos MORI poll for the Evening Standard newspaper put “Remain” on 52 percent and “Leave” on 48 percent, sending the pound soaring against the dollar. Polling was carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday.

8.20pm:Torrential rain threatens turnout

Voters in parts of Britain are facing floods and torrential downpours as they cast their ballots in a referendum on whether or not to remain in the European Union.

The capital, London, is expecting a month’s rainfall in a few hours Thursday. Overnight thunderstorms flooded some streets, homes and businesses. Commuters also suffered disruptions.

London’s Fire Brigade says it received hundreds of calls related to the weather, including reports of lightning strikes and rising water that trapped vehicles.

A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London. Picture: AFP

7.55pm:Cameron’s Twitter plea

British PM David Cameron was quick to vote this morning and he has been busy on social media attempting to sway the undecideds.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha leave after casting their votes. Picture: AFP

Incredibly passionate speech from Sheila Hancock, on why we’re stronger together than apart #VoteRemain: https://t.co/6Dp4MWS4dx

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) June 23, 2016

7.30pm:The UK’s referendum explained

Just in case you need a refresher ...

7pm:Sterling surges

The British pound continued to rise in local early morning trade, to touch its highest point of the calendar year.

As optimistic investors bet Britain would remain in the EU, sterling jumped to US75.37 cents by 9am GMT (7pm AEST).

It extended a sharp lift in the Asian session today, despite predictions the pound would crater if Britan voted to exit.

The Aussie also rose to new highs as investors took a shine to greater risk.

6pm:Leave or Remain?

The poll of polls is based on the average share of the vote for ‘Leave’ and ‘Remain’ in the six most recent polls of voting:

5.30pm:Voters get a wet reception

Voters in London and southeast England will have to brave floods and torrential downpours to cast their ballots in the EU referendum.

The capital is expected to see a month’s rainfall in the space of a few hours and a red Met Office weather warning is in place for parts of the country.

There were reports of flooded streets after overnight thunderstorms swept through, threatening disruption as voters head to polling stations.

London Fire Brigade said it received hundreds of calls to reports of weather-related incidents, including lightning striking property, flooded homes and businesses, and rising water trapping vehicles.

The Environment Agency has issued four flood warnings covering rivers in Bromley, Sidcup and Basildon, and 22 flood alerts across the South East.

4.30pm:Brexit polls open

More than 46 million people are registered to vote in Thursday’s plebiscite, which asks: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?” Polls are open until 10pm local time (7am AEST), with results due early Friday.

The referendum has exposed deep divisions over issues including sovereignty and national identity.

“Leave” campaigners claim that only a British exit can restore power to Parliament and control immigration. The “remain” campaign led by Prime Minister David Cameron argues that Britain is safer and richer inside the 28-nation EU.

Financial markets have been volatile ahead of the vote, as opinion polls suggested a tight race.

Polls open in 20 mins in #UKref and it is wet wet wet. Flooding roads kind of wet pic.twitter.com/yaFoj9SDD4

— Lisa Millar (@LisaMillar) June 23, 2016

On the eve of the historic referendum, two polls -- both conducted over the internet -- put the “Leave” camp ahead by one or two percentage points, well within the margin of error.

In one telephone poll, however, “Remain” took a notable lead of 48 percent, ahead of “Leave” on 42 percent with the rest undecided, according a survey by ComRes for the Daily Mail and ITV News.

Financial institutions are reinforcing teams to cope with the prospect of frantic trading through the day and the world’s leading central banks say they are ready to react to any eventuality.

‘Independence Day’

The often acrimonious, deeply-emotional campaign has exposed a gulf among Britons on membership of Europe.

The Thursday editions of British newspapers captured the drama of voting day. “Independence day” was the headline of the pro-Brexit Sun, while The Times called it a “Day of reckoning”.

Sun front page.

The Daily Express.

A push to remain in the EU.

Finally, voting day has arrived.

Leading Brexit backer Boris Johnson, a former London mayor who is widely touted as a future prime minister, insisted the “Leave” campaign was on the brink of victory.

“I do think that we are on the verge, possibly, of an extraordinary event in the history of our country and indeed in the whole of Europe,” Johnson said in eastern England in a final scramble for support on Wednesday.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who has staked his political legacy on the referendum, implored people to vote to stay in the bloc at a final rally in Birmingham on the eve of voting.

“Winston Churchill didn’t give up on European democracy... and we shouldn’t walk away,” he said.

“Our economy will suffer if we leave,” he warned.

‘Out is out’

“If you jump out of the aeroplane, you cannot clamber back through the cockpit hatch. That is why anyone in any doubt should vote remain tomorrow.” EU leaders warned Britons that there would be no turning back from a vote to quit.

“Out is out,” European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said in Brussels on Wednesday, dismissing any talk of a post-vote renegotiation of Britain’s membership terms.

French President Francois Hollande warned an exit would be “irreversible”. A British withdrawal from the EU would trigger a lengthy exit negotiation, leading to the loss of unfettered access to its partners in the EU’s single market and forcing the country to strike its own trade accords across the world.

In Europe, the referendum has raised concerns of a domino effect of exit votes that would imperil the integrity of the bloc, already buffeted by the eurozone and migration crises.

Though many voters fret over the financial consequences of a Brexit, others relish the prospect of taking back power from Brussels and reining in high levels of immigration.

The referendum battle had paused for three days to honour the brutal murder of Jo Cox, a pro-”Remain” British lawmaker and mother of two who was stabbed, shot and left bleeding to death on the pavement a week ahead of the vote.

“Jo’s killing was political. It was an act of terror,” her husband Brendan Cox told around 5,000 people gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square on Wednesday on what would have been her 42nd birthday.

Thomas Mair, 52, has been charged with Cox’s murder.

On his first appearance in court on Saturday, he gave his name as “Death to traitors, freedom for Britain”.

A psychiatric report was requested.

EU leaders will open a two-day summit in Brussels on Tuesday to deal with the result and decide how to cope with the risk of similar referendums on the continent that could threaten the bloc’s integrity.

AFP/AP