It was pretty close, but after all was said and done the Scottish people have voted to reject independence.
Early this morning, the Scottish national party and First Minister Alex Salmond conceded defeat in their fight to gain independence from a 307-year association with the United Kingdom, with estimates suggesting that 55 per cent of voters will have voted no by the time all the ballots are counted.
As had been predicted in the lead-up to the referendum, the Better Together campaign carried the day with victories in areas such as Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire, Falkirk and Inverclyde and despite narrow successes for the ‘Yes’ side in areas such as Glasgow (53%), West Dunbartonshire (54%), Dundee (57%) and North Lanarkshire (51%).
As it became which way the tide was going to turn in the early hours of this morning, Alex Salmond accepted that the ‘Yes’ campaign was destined to end in defeat and reminded the unionist parties that they would have to honour promises made to give more power to the Scottish parliament.
I’ve spoken to Alistair Darling – and congratulated him on an well-fought campaign. #indyref
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) September 19, 2014
Prime Minister David Cameron, meanwhile, congratulated leader of the ‘No’ campaign Alistair Darling for his work in the lead-up to the referendum and with a definitive result certain to be reached, a scenario imagined by JOE reader Jonathan Tuohy ultimately won’t come to pass.
If its a draw does the Scottish Referendum end in a draw and a replay in Limerick next Saturday?? #IndyRef @JOEdotie
— Jonathan Tuohy (@JT_92) September 19, 2014
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