Scotland says 'No' in independence referendum

Friday, September 19, 2014

Residents of Scotland voted against becoming an independent nation yesterday in the Scottish independence referendum. The country is to remain part of the United Kingdom. In a turnout of 84.6% of some 4.3 million eligible voters, 55% voted against and 45% voted for the proposition "Should Scotland be an independent country?".

Polling stations opened at 7.00 a.m on the 18th with queues outside some of the 5,579 stations, and many were busy until the polls closed at 22.00 p.m. Overnight, after the first result was announced at 1:30 a.m., the "No" vote slowly edged ahead. Just after 6:00 a.m., with the declaration of the results for Fife, the "No" campaign attained an unassailable lead. With the final declaration by the Highland Council this gave a final total of 1,617,989 "Yes" and 2,001,926 "No" votes.

When the referendum was announced in March of 2013 Australia's ABC reported that opinion polls showed only 30% of the Scottish population supported independence, with 50% favouring the preservation of the Union. On the eve of the referendum this had narrowed to "No" 45%, "Yes" 41% with 14% remaining undecided. With a greater margin than recent polls had suggested the majority of these undecided voters ultimately voted "No" to win it for the pro-union camp.

Celebrating the continuation of the Union, Alistair Darling, leader of the pro-union Better Together campaign, addressing "No" campaign workers said "You represent the majority of opinion and your voices have been heard. We have taken on the argument and we have won, the silent have spoken." concluding "Come on Scotland, let's get on with it together."

Following the defeat, a defiant Alex Salmond, leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party, said "Thank you to Scotland for 1.6 million votes for Scottish independence" and "Scotland by majority has decided not at this stage to become an independent country". Salmond concluded: "Let us not dwell on the distance we have fallen short, but on the distance we have come."

David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, said "The people of Scotland have spoken and it is a clear result. They have kept our country of four nations together and like millions of other people I am delighted."

On the package of greater devolved powers for Scotland promised late in the day to the Scottish people, Cameron said: "We will ensure that those commitments are honoured in full." and that "We have delivered on devolution and we will do so in the next parliament." Promising that in delivering the "vow" a parallel process will address the West Lothian question and work towards greater devolution of powers to Wales, Northern Ireland, and at Westminster, English only votes on English issues.

David Cameron must now negotiate with the Westminster parties and convince them—especially some within his own party—to pass legislation through Westminster to enable this before the March 2015 date promised.

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"Glasgow's Common Weal launch; 'Not me first. All of us first'" — Wikinews, December 16, 2013
"John Major weighs in on Scottish independence debate" — Wikinews, November 29, 2013
"Scotland sets date for referendum" — Wikinews, March 23, 2013
"Cameron, Salmond sign deal for referendum on Scottish independence" — Wikinews, October 18, 2012
"United Kingdom opposition leader states commitment to keeping Scotland part of the Union" — Wikinews, May 23, 2008

Sources

"Scottish referendum: Scotland votes 'No' to independence" — BBC, September 19, 2014
Olivia Bolton, and agencies, video source ITN. "Alistair Darling calls it a momentous day for UK as a whole as Scotland rejects independence" — The Telegraph, September 19, 2014
"Scottish independence: Voting under way in referendum" — BBC, September 18, 2014
Tom Peterkin. "Scottish independence poll: ICM puts Yes up to 48%" — The Scotsman, September 17, 2014
Martin Roberts. "Spain says Scottish independence would be a 'catastrophe'" — The Telegraph, September 17, 2014
Severin Carrell and Nicholas Watt. "If Scotland votes no: fast-track new tax powers and threat of Tory backlash" — The Guardian, September 17, 2014
"Scotland sets date for independence referendum" — Australian Broadcasting Corporation, March 22, 2013

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