THE decision for the UK to leave the European Union is ‘democracy in action’, a borough councillor has said.

The margin in Cheshire West and Chester was one of the tightest in the country.

In the end, 98,082 (50.7 per cent) of residents in Northwich, Winsford and the rest of Cheshire West decided to leave the EU, while 95,455 (49.3 per cent) voted to remain.

Nationally, the Leave campaign polled 52 per cent votes, which led to the resignation of PM David Cameron.

Shares also plunged and the pound sunk to a 31-year low as traders fear the prospect of another recession.

Following the result, Labour councillor Sam Naylor, Cheshire West and Chester ward member for Winnington and Castle, said voters ‘lost confidence with the Labour and Conservative political elite’.

Cllr Naylor said: “There are lots of communities up and down the country that feel dislocated at the moment.

“Up and down the country there are staunch, traditional Labour supporters that voted out. They have lost confidence in the Labour and Conservative political elite.

“We are a divided nation. We have a very small number of people with a huge, divided wealth. Communities are suffering.

“But the sun will keep shining. We have to try and plan to move forward.”

Cllr Naylor voted to remain in the EU.

While he concedes there are a lot of things wrong with the EU, he believes we are better off in it.

“I worry for the future of my children and grandchildren,” he said.

“I think this is going to take years to unravel.”

The Labour councillor criticised both camps for scaremongering the public in the run up to the referendum, which he claimed became a ‘referendum on immigration’.

“There’s been fear from both sides,” he said.

“It has come down to a referendum on immigration. It is fear tactics that led to the result.

“It should have been about economics, but I think more and more as the debate went on, it became a polarised debate about a referendum on immigration.

“But this is democracy in action. The people have spoken.”

Cllr Helen Weltman, CWAC ward member for Davenham and Moulton and Conservative shadow cabinet member for housing, said the UK’s economy could take ‘years’ to recover.

Cllr Weltman said: “The people have spoken. We just have to get on with it and see what happens.

“It’s probably going to take years to bounce back. It’s a step into the unknown.”