LOCAL MPs have been giving their reactions after Britain voted to leave the European Union.

Ilkley's MP Kris Hopkins said: “A majority of those who voted on Thursday have decided that the United Kingdom should give up its membership of the European Union, and this must be respected.

“As a committed Remain campaigner, I am obviously disappointed at the outcome as will the many voters in Keighley and Ilkley who shared my view.

“I am proud to represent such a diverse constituency which is greatly enriched by people from many different backgrounds and nationalities.  

“As the local Member of Parliament, it is my responsibility to continue to represent their interests as keenly as those who hold an alternative view.

“I do not share Nigel Farage’s vision of Britain and I do want us to become an inward-looking country in the wake of this vote.

“To this end, I am fully committed to working closely with colleagues in Government to deliver the best possible deal for the United Kingdom as we prepare to leave the EU.

“I also wish to pay tribute to David Cameron who kept his pledge to deliver a referendum for the British people. 

“He has been a friend to Keighley and Ilkley, first as Conservative Leader and for the last six years as Prime Minister.  His decision to step down is a great loss to our country.”         

  Otley's MP has warned that 'many people will start to regret' the UK's decision to leave the European Union.

Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) posted his reaction to the victory for the Leave campaign - which won by 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent - online early on Friday morning.

Mr Mulholland, who campaigned for the country to remain part of the EU, said: "The public have spoken and we all must accept the result of the referendum which is a vote to leave the European Union.

"Of course I am disappointed and I feel that many people will start regret this outcome upon seeing the consequences.

"The pound has already dropped to its lowest value for over thirty years and the process of exit and negotiating trade deals with other countries will be lengthy and costly.

"Nevertheless, I fully respect the will of the British people and with all MPs will work with Government to deliver that.

"The Liberal Democrats will continue to be the progressive, forward looking, liberal force in British Politics, a force that is needed more than ever.

"We will fight for a better, fairer Britain and will work to build strong relations with other nations in the new context in which our nation exists.

"I will of course continue to focus on campaigning locally and nationally for my constituents and campaign against injustice."

He added on Twitter, in response to the dramatic impact of the result on the financial markets:

"So the pound crashes, the FTSE plummets by £140 billion and we're looking at Gove or Johnson as PM!!

"Not Project Fear, it's Brexit Reality!"

Mr Mulholland also commented on the Prime Minister, David Cameron's announcement that he would be stepping down in October as a consequence of the result.

And he questioned the sincerity of those Conservative MPs who had written to Mr Cameron before the vote, urging him to continue as PM whatever the outcome of the referendum.

He said: "This [ie Mr Cameron's resignation] was always inevitable with Brexit."

Otley businessman Ray Georgeson MBE, meanwhile, has also raised concerns about the potential economic fallout.

Mr Georgeson, who is Chief Executive Officer of the Resource Association, runs an environmental consultancy – Ray Georgeson Resources (RGR) – which works across Europe.

He said: “EU regulation has led to the near elimination of environmentally damaging landfill and has built a thriving recycling industry over the last twenty years or so that has created many

thousands of jobs and contributed to reducing carbon emissions.

“My industry was very clear that Brexit was undesirable and would lead to investor uncertainty and be damaging to my industry's future prospects in the UK.

“Clearly everyone needs to take stock and try to remain calm.

“But in the face of such a seismic decision by people there will be many uncertainties to navigate.

“Today, personally, I am very fearful  of the economic impact of this decision , not just for my industry but for our wider economy and society.”

MP Philip Davies – whose Shipley constituency includes Menston and Burley-in-Wharfedale – said this morning he was "extremely proud" following Britain's historic vote.

He was speaking after the announcement that in the referendum, Britain had voted by 52 to 48 per cent to exit the EU. In Bradford district, 54.2 per cent (123,913) voted to leave and 45.8 per cent (104,575) to remain.

"I am extremely proud of Britain and very proud of Yorkshire and the Bradford district," said Mr Davies.

"We showed that we wouldn't be bullied and we would not be taken for granted.

"When I was the only MP in 2005 saying we should leave the EU and when I launched Better Off Out in 2006, I didn't think that a decade later we would be out of the EU.

"Our country has a great future ahead of us and it is the responsibility of politicians now to deliver what the public have asked for – not least properly controlling immigration which we will be able to do when we complete our withdrawal from the EU."

While Leeds voted to remain in Craven it was a vote for leave which attracted 18,961 votes against remain, 16,930.

Stuart Andrew MP tweeted: "The country has spoken. Now we have to come together as a country and work for the best deal for the UK."

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, turnout was 70.1 per cent. A total of 2,717,426 voters.

* What do you think? Post your comments or email claire.lomax@gazetteandobserver.co.uk