Scottish voters have rejected independence and decided that Scotland will remain part of the United Kingdom.
Scotland’s has rejected independence in Friday’s referendum count, with declared local authority areas so far choosing by to stay within the U.K. by around 55%. The 307-year-strong union seems to have survived, although increased powers will be devolved to the territory.
A total of 32 local authority are being tallied up, and although the key constituency of Glasgow voted for independence, it was not by a particularly large margin, in a near-fatal blow to the Yes camp.
The result announced early Friday was the one favored by Britain’s political leaders, who had campaigned hard in recent weeks to convince Scottish voters to stay. It dashed many Scots’ hopes of breaking free and building their own nation.
Britain’s leaders had argued successfully that Scots are better off staying part of the United Kingdom with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The decision to reject independence will ease the worries of some business leaders who had warned they would have to shift their headquarters away from Scotland to England if Scots voted to become independent.
- Agencies
