Thursday 23 June 2016 10:11 pm

Ukip leader Nigel Farage believes that Remain has won the referendum

With the polls now closed in today's referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union, Ukip leader and Leave campaigner Nigel Farage has said that he believes his side has lost.

"Turnout looks to be exceptionally high and it looks like Remain will edge it," Farage told Sky News.

"Ukip and I are going nowhere and the party will only continue to grow stronger in the future," he added.

The Ukip leader, who could face a challenge from within his party following the outcome of the referendum, has faced criticism for his approach to the campaign.

The Leave campaigner later said: "Massive thanks to those who defied their party political leaders and the elites. Whoever wins this battle…we are winning this war.

"I promise you this, if we haven't quite won this, then we have a lot to look forward to:" he then rattled off the threats of Turkey joining, Eu army and another Greek bailout

"The eurosceptic genie is out of the battle and it will not be put back," Farage added.

However, speaking on Sky News, both pro-Remain MP Alan Johnson and pro-Brexit MP Chris Grayling both said that it was too early to call the result.

Meanwhile, Lord Paddy Ashdown said: "At this stage it is very, very, very close. Nigel Farage is probably hedging his bets, he doesn't know either. The truth is you'll just have to be patient."

A poster that warned of Britain reaching "breaking point", and showed a queue of refugees pictured elsewhere in Europe, was promoted by Farage but widely condemned across the political spectrum.

The Leave campaigner pulled out of last night's final referendum debate on Channel 4 citing "family reasons".

The latest YouGov poll has put Remain on 52 per cent and Leave on 48 per cent.