The people of Scotland have rejected independence and instead have chosen to be united forever with their English and Welsh neighbors in a historic referendum that had worried investors as well as allies. The results of the voting was declared within two hours from the time counting started on Friday morning. According to the news agency Reuters, the supporters of United Kingdom won the contest with 55 percent of the vote share. Those in the independence camp conceded their defeat soon after the picture became clear as they got only 45 percent of the vote share.
The First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond admitted defeat for the time being. On the other hand, the members of the unionist campaign couldn’t contain their emotions as they poured drinks, clapped and cheered as soon as the results were declared. British Prime Minister David Cameron who made an emotional appeal to the people of Scotland before the vote to stay united is expected to make a statement.
The nationalists managed to win the largest city of Scotland, Glasgow, but they failed to convince the rest of the population. The campaign for independence saw the country with a population of 5.3 million galvanize, but it also managed to divide friends and family from the big cities to the smaller remote islands.
Many celebrities from Scotland also aired their views on the vote. For instance actor Gerrard Butler and Sean Connery though couldn’t vote, but favored to for an independent nation. Even tennis star Andy Murray tweeted on Thursday supporting an independent nation. Some of the famous Scottish nationals who were against separating from UK included former Manchester United manager and legend Sir Alex Fergusson and actor Ewan McGregor.
An unprecedented number of 4.8 million voters turned up for voting which is almost 97 percent of the electorate. The prospect of the world’s sixth-largest economy breaking up stoked major concern across Europe and the United States. The Union Jack after all won’t see any change and the country that has remained together for 307 years will continue to remain together as Great Britain.