Despite a surge in nationalist support in the final fortnight of the campaign, the "No" secured 55.30 percent of the vote against 44.70 percent for the pro-independence "Yes" camp.
After a campaign that fired up separatist movements around the world, turnout was 84.6 percent, officials said — the highest ever for an election in Britain.
"No" campaigners across Scotland cheered and hugged as the results came in and British Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "delighted", adding: "It would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end."
Many "Yes" activists watched dejected and in tears, although First Minister Alex Salmond urged them take heart from the huge numbers — 1.6 million — who backed independence.
"I don't think any of us, whenever we entered politics, would have thought such a thing to be either credible or possible," the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader told cheering supporters in Edinburgh.
The result reassured those worried about the economic risks of a break-up.
The pound rose against the dollar and the euro on the currency markets, and the London stock market rallied sharply in opening trade.
The CBI business lobby group said the result would be greeted by a "collective sigh of relief across the business community".
The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schultz, was the first to react abroad, saying he was "relieved" and adding: "I like a United Kingdom in a united Europe." Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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this great and unbelievable. results.
ReplyDeleteWEEP NOT SCOTS, WEEP NOT AGAIN. THOSE WHO VOTED TO CONTINUE IN SLAVERY WILL ONE DAY REALISE THEIR FOLLY.WHEN IT SUITS LONDON IT WILL ANSWER ENGLAND, AT OTHER TIME IT ANSWER BRITAIN, LATER IT ANSWERS UNITED KINGDOM, WHAT A SHAME AND UNRELIABILITY. WHAT HAPPENED TO USSR, AUSTRIO-HUNGARY, YUGOSLAVIA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, SUDAN, etc, SHOULD HUG THEIR MINDS. THE DREAMS OF FREEDOM WILL ONE DAY COME TO PASS. IT SHALL COME. (Jay-2, Abuja).
ReplyDeleteWith the help of the world and all other people who have been able to seek independence will definitely get it one day. Keep on fighting.......
ReplyDeleteWhy was Bakassi not given this opportunity before forcefully pushing them to Cameroon?? OBJ???
ReplyDeleteWe need tthis same "YES" or "NO" referandum in this UNION called NIGERIA. In the CIVILISED WORLD it is a REFERANDUM in AFRICA it is REBELLION. I tire for this WORLD of INEQUALITY O!
ReplyDeleteAh beg give the north a referendum.
ReplyDeleteITS LONG OVERDUE IN NIGERIA.
ReplyDeleteSome people are just rather stupid or childish in this forum.
ReplyDelete