Reuters
Scotland spurned independence in a historic referendum on Thursday, saving a union dating back over 300 years but ushering in a period of intense bargaining over Prime Minister David Cameron’s pre-vote pledges to give Scots more say over their own affairs.
A vote for the union is a relief for millions of Britons including Cameron, whose job was on the line, as well as allies across the world who were horrified at the prospect of the United Kingdom’s separation.
Unionists celebrated in Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city where secessionists were in a majority, while nationalist leader Alex Salmond conceded defeat and hours later told reporters he would resign.
Opponents of independence won 55% of the vote while separatists won 45% with all 3.6mn votes - a record 85% turnout - counted. But leaders from across the United Kingdom said the union must change if it is to endure.
Speaking in front of an image of a giant white on blue Scottish flag, Salmond combined a pledge to respect the result with a warning to British politicians in London that they must respect their last-minute promises of more powers for Scotland.
Scots would be “incandescent” if they saw London politicians dragging their feet on their promises, he said.
“There are 1.6mn people who made a choice for independence,” he told a news conference. “I think the 1.6mn people will speak and speak loud if there is a retreat from the commitments made.”
Salmond said he would not run again as leader of the Scottish National Party when his term ends in November and would resign as Scottish First Minister then too.
“For me as leader my time is nearly over but for Scotland the campaign continues and the dream will never die,” he told journalists in Edinburgh, the Scottish capital which supported the United Kingdom.
Cameron said the question of Scottish independence had been settled for a generation.
“There can be no disputes, no re-runs, we have heard the settled will of the Scottish people,” he said outside his official London residence in Downing Street.
Queen Elizabeth, who is at her Scottish castle in Balmoral, issued a rare statement expressing confidence that Scots would be able to come together again after the deep divisions of the referendum campaign.
She said: “Knowing the people of Scotland as I do, I have no doubt that Scots ... are able to express strongly-held opinions before coming together again in a spirit of mutual respect and support, to work constructively for the future of Scotland and indeed all parts of this country.”