Scotland voted on Thursday to stay part of the United Kingdom, in a calm and democratic referendum that split the country in half, but reunited them in calls for more power given to the Scots themselves, as Brussels and fragile EU nations watched closely.
After nearly 3.5 mln people went to the polls in one of the highest voter turnout in recent memory, 55% said ‘No’ to the simple question of ‘should Scotland be independent’ to 45% saying ‘Yes’ to a move out of the U.K. The difference was about three points wider than expected by opinion polls.
After last-ditch efforts by the government in London to sway the voters to keeping the national united, the Scots now expect Prime Minister David Cameron to keep his promise by devolving powers over tax, spending and welfare to the Scottish Parliament, as well as a host of UK constitutional reform, including Scottish members of the UK Parliament, voting on English matters.
Alex Salmond, SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland who drove the pro-independence campaign over the past two year, conceded at about 6.20am, local time.
“Scotland has by a majority decided not at this stage to become an independent country. I call upon all the people of Scotland to accept the democratic verdict of the people of Scotland,” he said.
Former Chancellor Alistair Darling, who led the ‘Better Together’ campaign, said the people of Scotland had “chosen unity over division and positive change rather than needless separation.”
Cameron’s promises for more devolution to the Scottish Parliament is expected to be agreed by November with draft legislation to follow in January.
With Scotland considered as more pro-EU than the rest of the UK, many feared a ‘Yes’ vote would have increased the chances of a “Brexit” in the possible in/out referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. Some MEPs have even suggested that a vote by English voters to take the UK out of the EU could reignite the Scottish independence debate.
The strongest outcome for the ‘Yes’ campaign was in Glasgow, together with Dundee, West Dunbartonshire and North Lanarkshire. Edinburgh, the capital, and Aberdeen voted ‘No’.
