14 DAY TRIAL // The final results of the Scottish independence votes are in and they’re surely a disappointment for the nationalist party that’s leading the government.
“Should Scotland be an independent country?” read the question on the ballots. 55.3 percent of voters answered with “no,” while only 44.7 percent voted for the country’s separation from the United Kingdom.
Out of the 4.3 million people registered to vote, 84.6 percent went to the polls, in what turned out to be a record turnout. The last record in the UK was for the British general election in 1950 when the turnout reached 84 percent of voters.
This year, for the referendum, the minimum voting age was pushed down to 16, adding a whole new group of people to the mix.
Official figures indicate that 2,001,926 people voted “no,” and 1,617,989 voted for the independence of Scotland.
Various opinion polls before the vote on Scotland’s independence indicated much closer numbers, with only a small number of people making the difference between “yes” and “no.” The final results, however, took the government officials by surprise.
First Minister Alex Salmon thanked those who voted for independence, including the citizens of Glasgow.
On the other side, David Cameron, the British Prime Minister expressed his delight to see the results of the referendum, saying that it would have broken his heart to see the UK come to an end.
What political leaders had to say about the referendum results
David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, said that the people of Scotland have spoken and that they’ve sent a clear result in keeping the country of four nations together.
“As I said during the campaign, it would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end. And I know that sentiment was shared by people not just across our country but around the world because of what we have achieved together in the past and what we can do together in the future,” Cameron said.
He added that now was the time for the UK to come together and to move forward. He did promise, however, that there would be a balanced settlement for the people in Scotland and to everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Alex Salmond, the First Minister of Scotland, acknowledge the defeat and thanked the 1.6 million who voted for Scotland’s independence.
“I accept that verdict of the people and I call on all of Scotland to follow suit in accepting the democratic verdict of the people of Scotland. I think all of us in this campaign will say that 45%, that 1.6 million votes, is a substantial vote for Scottish independence and the future of this country,” Salmond said.
He also expressed his gratefulness at the record turnout, which is the “highest in the democratic world for any election or any referendum in history.” Salmond added that the initiative to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote has proved to be a resounding success.
Edward Miliband, the leader of the Labour Party and the Leader of the Opposition, expressed his delight regarding the decision taken by the people of Scotland to stay within the United Kingdom.
“Our United Kingdom is stronger today than it was yesterday. The challenge now is to meet the scale of change that people across Scotland, England, Wales and every part of the UK want to see. We need big change in politics and our constitution and it must be led by people, not politicians in Westminster,” he added.
Scotland’s vote was also acknowledged by José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission. He said that he welcomed the decision to maintain the unity of the United Kingdom. He considers this outcome to be a good one for the united, open and stronger Europe that the European Union desires.