Iceland has voted against reopening European Union accession talks, with a majority of voters rejecting a return to the negotiating table in a landmark national referendum.

According to the Icelandic public broadcaster RUV, the "no" campaign secured a majority among the approximately 270,000 eligible voters who went to the polls. Citizens were asked a direct question: should Iceland resume accession negotiations with the European Union?

Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir had previously framed the referendum as a "now or never" moment for the country, stating earlier this month that a rejection would draw a line under the debate and settle all EU speculation for good. Speaking to reporters, she said: "This is a great day. We've been waiting for this for years to be able to have a vote."

Ms Frostadottir confirmed that her administration will continue its work regardless of the outcome. A press conference has been scheduled for 2pm UK time to formally discuss the results of the ballot.

The membership question has deeply divided Iceland, particularly around national security and the protection of its vital fishing industry. Entering the European Union would mean joining the bloc's Common Fisheries Policy, opening Icelandic territorial waters to fishing vessels from member states such as Spain and the Netherlands.

Iceland already maintains significant ties with Brussels, participating directly in the EU's single market as well as the Schengen free-travel zone. The country initially applied for full membership in 2009 after the global financial crash left its economy exposed, but the process was brought to an end in 2013 after a sceptical government took office.

Opposition to resuming negotiations was spearheaded by Professor Haraldur Ólafsson, who led the "Keep In Control" campaign—a title drawing direct inspiration from the Vote Leave movement's "Take Back Control" slogan during the UK's Brexit referendum. Professor Ólafsson warned of severe economic consequences, telling The Telegraph earlier this year: "I would suggest that becoming a member of the European Union is the worst business idea Iceland could think of, and being a member is a huge step away from democracy as we know it."

Professor Ólafsson also pointed to the UK's departure as a cautionary lesson, arguing that "the conclusions we can draw from Brexit are that you are not supposed to leave the EU" because the bloc makes exit deliberately arduous. He warned that the situation would be even more severe if Iceland ever took on the euro, remarking: "They would make it as and if we had the euro, it would go from being difficult to being impossible."

In the UK, the outcome was quickly welcomed by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who posted on social media: "Congratulations to Iceland on voting to keep their independence."

With the public having delivered a definitive "no", the immediate focus turns to Prime Minister Frostadottir's afternoon briefing and the formal steps her government will take to close the chapter on accession talks. I'll be following this one.