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'Now we have to prove we really are a great country'

JC readers reveal how they cast their vote, and why

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Stuart Byron, teacher, from Golders Green, in his 50s. Voted Leave

"I voted Leave because I didn't like being ruled by Europe. What's happened since the vote shows that I wasn't far wrong. Europe now has turned out as a big bully; 'we're going to sort you out because of what you did'. It just shows that they thought they had complete control over the country."

Married couple Mozelle and Andy Barnett, from Edgware, in their 50s. Mozelle voted Leave, Andy Remain

Mozelle: "I think that it will be better for this country for us to stand alone on our own two feet rather than giving so much money to the EU.

"I was worried waking up the morning after the vote. I didn't expect Leave to win, because the talk the night before was that Remain had definitely got it, and when I heard that Leave had got it, it was a bit frightening, what with the scaremongering that we heard during the campaign. But now a few days have gone by and I don't think that it's going to be as bad as they made it out to be."

Andy: "I think there was an absolutely clear case for coming out except that I didn't think that it was a strong enough thing, so when I got in the polling booth I voted in - almost reluctantly. But I thought I didn't mind giving it another try to push Europe to change because it's going to have to change. My worry was quite frankly - would they be capable of changing and I'm still not sure that they are.

"But there is now a really big set of legal challenges to sort out to get this to go through - it's by no means certain that the referendum decision will be ratified. Whoever comes into power - Socialist, Conservative or mixed - we'll need somebody who's going to lead clearly from the front.

Lauren Kayser, 29. Voted Remain

"I personally am scared of change, so it just felt like it would be better all round to stay what with the uncertainty of not staying in. Obviously that's the situation we're in now and there's no point in all these people getting so worked up about it. We need to deal with it.

"I'm particularly worried about the UK's relationship with Israel because I did feel a sense of security with David Cameron being in power, but now we don't know who could get in and what that could mean for us."

Alison Mattey, 53. Voted Remain

"The main reason that people wanted out was immigration and I thought that David Cameron did a really good speech at Jewish Care recently where he promised to keep donating money to the CST and he's got very good relations with Israel, and I just felt for our own security, it's better to be in.

"I think at the moment we've got to wait and see if things calm down. I think we've got to see which politician is going to be taking over from David Cameron and if it's Boris Johnson it may be a slight problem, we'll see how it goes."

Goldie, (declined to give her full name), from Belgium but has lived in the UK for almost 40 years. Her husband and some children voted Leave

"I have eight kids, some of them won't tell me how they voted, but others voted out. The reasons that they were voting out? Because I think we are scared about immigration laws and quite honestly I think that a lot of people wanted a change. I think generally speaking that people didn't actually believe that Out would win they are now very nervous.

"I'm really scared about immigration laws. I'm genuinely scared about what's going on - I'm scared they're letting too many unsavoury people in and that's scary. I think the Jewish community is scared about Turkey joining. The minute Turkey joins, I think we can actually pack up and leave to Israel. Turkey – can you imagine? It's all the Isis."

Sam Lederman, 20. Voted Remain

"It was the logical thing to do, voting remain. I mean there were quite a few experts on the Remain side saying how leaving would be terribly bad for the economy. It's a bit of a generalisation, but many Leave voters voted because they think immigrants were taking over our jobs and all of that; I think that immigrants contribute quite a large amount to our culture."

Zalmy Cohen, aged 24. Didn't vote

"I would have voted out if I had voted. The truth is that I don't really know enough about it, that's why I didn't vote, but from what I gather, in the long run, it will just be worth it for the country. In the long run having the country basically independent, without any of the strings attached from the EU, it will be better."

Michelle, (declined to give her full name), 52. Voted Remain

"I think that our kids have lost the chance to be Europeans now. I'm terrified by people saying: 'oh, I voted to Leave, but I didn't mean it, I didn't think we would win'."

Vivian, (declined to give her full name), 70. Voted Leave

"One of my sons has totally disowned me and told me I've done it in for him and his children. I said the reason I voted the way I did was for my children - you and my granddaughters, because I think we've got to get out. I think about the economy and immigration - although I sometimes feel guilty, because I'm a child of a refugee, from Germany - but we're just being made fools of by Brussels and we have to make a break. If we don't, we'll regret it. And things will come right, and the economy will come right - it's just a blip, and I have great faith in this country but we have to pull our socks up and really prove we are a great country.

"I woke up the next morning and thought 'oh, what have I done, what have I done', because it was all so negative.

"But now the people who've voted to come out are being allowed to have more of a say, and I feel much more positive about it."

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