Voting in Scotland for the independence referendum ended last night at 22:00. The counting lasted throughout the night and at 6:00 today the result was announced: the No side, known as Better Together, secured 55% of the vote and thus, was the victor. Scotland will not secede from the United Kingdom to become an independent nation. As I wrote the other day, I supported a No vote, so I am satisfied with this result.
The immediate effect of the referendum's result, besides the union remaining intact, is that Alex Salmond will be resigning from his positions as the First Minister of Scotland and as the leader of the Scottish National Party. Negotiations to grant further devolution to Scotland will be starting soon and there has been talk of devolution in other parts of the United Kingdom, such as England.
There are two consequences that I don't want to occur from the No vote: firstly, I don't want any violence; a demonstration by the Yes camp has already taken place. There has been enough violence in this country in the past and it doesn't need any more. Secondly, there should not be a second referendum: the people of Scotland have already rejected independence and they should not be forced into more votes.
The No side is entitled, for today, to celebrate its victory; however, once the parties have finished the healing needs to begin. After over two years of campaigning against each other, the two sides need to re-unify as one Scotland and as a Scotland that is still a part of the United Kingdom.
I agree: I hope there's no violence from the yes party. Why did Scotland want to secede?
ReplyDeleteIn 2011, the Scottish National Party won a majority in the Scottish Parliament and introduced legislation to hold a referendum.
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