‘No’ vote wins as Scotland rejects independence
Scotland rejected independence on Friday in a referendum that left the centuries-old United Kingdom intact but paved the way for a major transfer of powers away from London.
Despite a surge in nationalist support in the final fortnight of the campaign, the “No” secured 55.30 percent of the vote against 44.70 percent for the pro-independence “Yes” camp.
After a campaign that fired up separatist movements around the world, turnout was 84.6 percent, officials said — the highest ever for an election in Britain.
Despite a surge in nationalist support in the final fortnight of the campaign, the “No” secured 55.30 percent of the vote against 44.70 percent for the pro-independence “Yes” camp.
After a campaign that fired up separatist movements around the world, turnout was 84.6 percent, officials said — the highest ever for an election in Britain.
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“No” campaigners across Scotland cheered and hugged as the results came in and British Prime Minister David Cameron, the prime minister, tweeted that he had spoken to Labour former chancellor Alistair Darling, leader of the no campaign, and congratulated him on a "well-fought campaign".
Salmond sounded a defiant note in a speech shortly after 6am, saying he accepted Scotland had not "at this stage" decided to vote for independence. He also issued a warning to the unionist parties that they must make good on their promises to give more power to the Scottish parliament.
"Scotland will expect these to be honoured in rapid course," the first minister said, adding that he would "work constructively in the interests of Scotland and the rest of the UK".
Salmond began his address by thanking the people of Scotland for casting 1.6m votes for independence and praised the inspiring nature of the campaign. "We have touched sections of the community who have never before been touched by politics," he said.Many “Yes” activists watched dejected and in tears, although First Minister Alex Salmond urged them take heart from the huge numbers — 1.6 million — who backed independence.
“I don’t think any of us, whenever we entered politics, would have thought such a thing to be either credible or possible,” the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader told cheering supporters in Edinburgh.
The result reassured those worried about the economic risks of a break-up.
The pound rose against the dollar and the euro on the currency markets, and the London stock market rallied sharply in opening trade.
The CBI business lobby group said the result would be greeted by a “collective sigh of relief across the business community”.
The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schultz, was the first to react abroad, saying he was “relieved” and adding: “I like a United Kingdom in a united Europe.”
“No” campaigners across Scotland cheered and hugged as the results came in and British Prime Minister David Cameron, the prime minister, tweeted that he had spoken to Labour former chancellor Alistair Darling, leader of the no campaign, and congratulated him on a "well-fought campaign".
Salmond sounded a defiant note in a speech shortly after 6am, saying he accepted Scotland had not "at this stage" decided to vote for independence. He also issued a warning to the unionist parties that they must make good on their promises to give more power to the Scottish parliament.
"Scotland will expect these to be honoured in rapid course," the first minister said, adding that he would "work constructively in the interests of Scotland and the rest of the UK".
Salmond began his address by thanking the people of Scotland for casting 1.6m votes for independence and praised the inspiring nature of the campaign. "We have touched sections of the community who have never before been touched by politics," he said.Many “Yes” activists watched dejected and in tears, although First Minister Alex Salmond urged them take heart from the huge numbers — 1.6 million — who backed independence.
“I don’t think any of us, whenever we entered politics, would have thought such a thing to be either credible or possible,” the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader told cheering supporters in Edinburgh.
The result reassured those worried about the economic risks of a break-up.
The pound rose against the dollar and the euro on the currency markets, and the London stock market rallied sharply in opening trade.
The CBI business lobby group said the result would be greeted by a “collective sigh of relief across the business community”.
The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schultz, was the first to react abroad, saying he was “relieved” and adding: “I like a United Kingdom in a united Europe.”
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