Scotland Votes To Stay With United Kingdom

Scotland has voted to remain as part of the United Kingdom, after
1,914,187 voters said 'No', beating the 1,539,920 people who voted
'Yes' to independence, in a referendum which began on Thursday
morning.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, who accepted the result,
called for unity and the unionist parties to deliver on their pledge
of more powers.

People in Scotland began voting on Thursday in a referendum on whether
the country should become independent or stay part of the United
Kingdom.

Voters turned up at polling stations in schools and halls as soon they
opened at 0600 GMT, to decide the fate of a 307-year-old union.

Following the announcement of the results, Salmond said the referendum
and the high turnout had been a "triumph for the democratic process"
and promised to keep his pledge in the Edinburgh Agreement which paved
the way for the referendum to respect the result and work for the
benefit of Scotland and the United Kingdom.

"The unionist parties made vows late in the campaign to devolve more
powers to Scotland," he told supporters, adding that "Scotland will
expect these to be honoured in rapid course - as a reminder, we have
been promised a second reading of a Scotland Bill by March 27 next
year.

"Not just the 1.6 million Scots who voted for independence will demand
that timetable is followed but all Scots who participated in this
referendum will demand that timetable is followed."

In response, UK Prime Minister said in a tweet, Friday morning, that
"Just as Scotland will have more power over their affairs, it follows
England, Wales and N Ireland must have a bigger say over theirs".

PM: Just as Scotland will have more power over their affairs, it
follows England, Wales and N Ireland must have a bigger say over
theirs
-- UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) September 19, 2014