Scotland Votes "NO" To Independence

Voters in Scotland have rejected independence after a tense and highly charged referendum campaign. The United Kingdom was shaken by the vote – which narrowed dramatically in the final weeks, with one poll showing the Yes side briefly surging into the lead – but finally held together. However, even a No vote seemed certain to change the shape of the 307-year-old union.

With 29 of 32 councils reporting the No side had captured 55 per cent of the vote, to 45 per cent for Yes. Shortly after the BBC and other networks declared the pro-union side had won, the deputy leader of the Scottish National Party effectively conceded that her side had lost the day.

“Like thousands of others across the country I've put my heart and soul into this campaign and there is a real sense of disappointment that we've fallen narrowly short of securing a yes vote,” Nicola Sturgeon told BBC television at 5:30 a.m. local time.

In a gracious speech delivered at dawn in Edinburgh, Scotland’s first minister Alex Salmond conceded defeat. “I accept the verdict of the people…We shall go forward as one nation.”

But he vowed to hold the leaders of the three main Westminster parties to their promise of delivering more power to the Scottish parliament. “Scotland will expect these to be honoured in rapid course,” he said.

There was no sense that Mr. Salmond would resign, since his pro-independence movement gained 1.6-million Yes votes – 45 per cent of the total. His focus will now shift to devolution negotiations, such as ensuring Scotland receives more taxation and welfare spending power.

British prime minister David Cameron is expected to outline a broad devolution plan for Scotland later this morning in a speech that will emphasize national unity.

Turnout was astonishing across Scotland, ranging from 75 per cent in Glasgow, the largest city – where the Yes side won 53 per cent of the vote – to 91 per cent in the central council of East Dunbartonshire.

The result means Prime Minister David Cameron can breathe a sigh of relief, and avoid a possible putsch against his leadership from within his Conservative Party. But it opens a series of other political problems for his government, namely how to deliver on a series of last-days promises designed to convince Scots to remain in the fold. That debate will begin immediately.

Mr. Cameron was expected to address the nation early Friday, shortly after the final results were to be announced. The Queen – working on Buckingham Palace’s assessment that the No side would prevail – was also due to release a statement Friday.

SOURCE: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/