UK High Commissioner Rob Luke yesterday allayed fears that Thursday’s vote in favour of Britain leaving the EU would bring dramatic overnight changes to people’s lives, saying it would be a “calm and methodical transition”.

Mr Luke gave this assurance when asked for his reaction by the Times of Malta following meetings with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil.

“I would like to reassure British nationals resident in Malta and Maltese nationals living in the UK that there will be no immediate changes to their circumstances. These practical issues along with others will be worked through as part of the negotiation process which will take place in a calm and methodical way in a spirit of good will,” he said.

The British High Commissioner added that the British government had taken note of the people’s democratic decision and the next step would be to engage with its European partners to negotiate the process of Britain’s departure from the EU, as well as to agree on the shape of their future relationship.

He insisted that Malta and the UK would preserve their strong bilateral relationship as trading partners and Commonwealth members while sounding upbeat on the UK’s international role in years to come.

“We remain one of the largest economies of the world, a member of the UN Security Council, the G7, G20 and Nato. We will continue to play a leading role internationally to tackle the global challenges, but also in dialogue on most things at EU level where we are eager to engage with Malta,” the High Commissioner said.

Touching on the Maltese presidency in the first half of next year, he said the UK’s interest was undiminished and he looked forward to engaging with Malta during negotiations on his country’s departure from the EU.