The Bagpipes Have Spoken ... it's NO to Scottish Independence

Scots playing bagpipes at a parade (Source : spoonandchair.wordpress.com)

After months of intense campaigning, heated debates, clashing and agreeing of diverse points and erratic speculation on the Scottish Referendum, the Scots finally went to the polls yesterday and a resounding No vote to independence is the result. 53.3% voted to remain a part of the United Kingdom while 44.7% voted for independence.

A paltry 4 council areas voted Yes which were Dundee, West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow and North Lanarkshire. 28 council areas voted No, bringing a resounding victory to the “Better Together” camp.

 

At a press conference this morning “Better Together” leader Alistair Darling still promised to work towards change in Scotland saying 'No vote doesn't mean No change'. Yes campaign leader Alex Salmond accepted Scotland's voice and urged Scots to move on together. Back in Downing Street Prime Minister David Cameron affirmed his promise of further devolution of powers to Scotland in what some have described as a quasi Devo Max (Maximum Devolution), which means getting power over everything apart from defence and foreign affairs. There is a huge sentiment that Holyrood might not gain control over oil take or corporation tax.

In Aberdeenshire which is Salmond’s council area, 40% voted Yes while in Edinburgh which is Darling’s, 61% voted No.

It was an 84% voter turnout as 3.6million of the total 4.2million registered voters cast their ballots. This voter turnout has been described as a record high in the UK. The No victory suggests that perhaps independence was not necessarily the necessary way to go, in trying to gain more powers for Scotland.

 Below is a breakdown of how the 32 council areas voted.

Yes Votes

Dundee - 57%

W. Dunbartonshire – 54%

Glasgow – 53%

N. Lanarkshire – 51%

No Votes
Edinburgh - 61%	E. Dunbartonshire - 61%
Fife - 55%	E. Lothian - 62%
S. Lanarkshire - 55%	E. Renfrewshire - 63%
Aberdeenshire - 60%	Eileanan Siar - 53%
Highland - 53%	Inverclyde - 51%
Aberdeen - 59%	Midlothian - 56%
W. Lothian - 55%	Moray - 58%
Renfrewshire - 53%	N. Ayrshire - 51%
Falkirk - 53%	Orkney Islands - 67%
Angus - 56%	Perth &Kincross - 60%
Argyll & Bute - 59%	Scottish Borders - 67%
Clackmannanshire - 54%	Shetland Islands - 64%
Dumfries & Galloway - 66%	S. Ayrshire - 58%
East Ayrshire - 53%	Stirling - 60%

After the results were announced the British Pound strengthened and shares rose. Royal Bank of Scotland which had last week indicated that in the event of an Independent Scotland, its headquarters would move to England, its shares today went up by 4 percent which is nearly a two-year high against the Euro. This suggests business confidence in a united United Kingdom. 

In the run-up to next year’s general elections Westminster must be seen owning up to its promise for devolution of powers for Scotland in-order for most Scots to vote in favour of conservative Members of Parliament.