BREXIT: Celebration As UK Finally Exits European Union

Candlelit vigils have taken place across Scotland as part of a series of events marking Brexit day.

Organisers of the Leave a Light On gatherings invited people to join them to mark the “sad occasion” of the UK’s exit from the European Union.

Meanwhile, supporters of Brexit gathered in Glasgow’s George Square to celebrate the moment at 23:00 when the country officially left the EU.

Scots voted by 62% to 38% to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum.

The overall UK result backed Leave by 51.9% to 48.1%.

In Edinburgh, a Missing EU Already rally took place outside the Scottish Parliament. It was organised by the Edinburgh Yes Hub, which backs Scottish independence.

The BBC’s Lorna Gordon said there were cheers from the crowd as the Scottish government’s Brexit minister, Mike Russell, told supporters the only way Scotland could rejoin the EU was to become an independent nation.

“This is the start of something, not the end”, he said.

Burst of Auld Lang Syne from the large crowd at pro EU, pro independence rally outside Scottish Parliament pic.twitter.com/eJ6tytxDXS

— Lorna Gordon (@bbclornag) January 31, 2020