There’s big breaking news this morning. Britain’s historic decision to leave the EU came as a shock to financial markets, injected a dose of uncertainty into the nation, and led Prime Minister David Cameron to resign. The move will have an impact on Fortune 500 companies who do business there.
Since the decision came to light early Friday, Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her country “sees its future in the EU.” While the U.K. decided to cut ties with the bloc, Scotland cast an “unequivocal” vote to stay, she said. As WMPW noted earlier this week, Sturgeon has said another independence referendum for Scotland is “definitely” on the table if the U.K. voted to leave.
While the story is still developing, it’s worth noting that during the campaign, a number of women became rising stars as a result of their efforts to convince British voters to stay in the EU or leave.
Take Ruth Davidson, the fiery Scottish Conservative leader who backed Remain and took on former London Mayor Boris Johnson at the BBC’s referendum debate at Wembley. Her passion in saying people “deserve the truth” about the issue was compared to the famous heated courtroom scene in “A Few Good Men” with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson.
Other women who raised their profiles include energy minister and former banker Andrea Leadsom and Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who both fought for Brexit. Then there’s Carolyn McCall, chief executive of EasyJet and one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, who was hailed by Cameron in the Financial Times as a “heroine” for supporting Remain.