Scots have voted to stay in the UK, following an intense campaign which saw both pro-independence and pro-union campaign groups scraping for last-minute support. The ‘No' campaign rallied 55 percent of votes against 45 percent ‘Yes' votes, reports GHN based on RT.
"Like thousands of others across the country, I've put my heart and soul into this campaign and there is a real sense of disappointment that we've fallen narrowly short of securing a ‘yes' vote," Nicola Sturgeon, deputy leader of the Scottish National Party, told BBC Television.
Accepting defeat, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond delivered his concession speech to his supporters and Scottish National Party activists, whose victory in least years' elections was built on the promise of an independence vote.
"Scotland has, by majority, decided at this stage not to be an independent nation. I accept that decision and call on all people in Scotland to do so," he said.
He added that the even a failure in referendum is important, because the level of support for a Scottish independence was massive enough to ensure that there would be no "business as usual" in the UK.
Representatives from the 'Better Together' group thanked Scottish voters, and hoped that the referendum's end would result in a stronger union in the future.
Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom, said that he is "absolutely delighted" that the people of Scotland have voted ‘No' in the referendum.
The people of Scotland have reaffirmed the bonds that bind them to the United Kingdom, said Alistair Darling, the leader of the Better Together group that campaigned for Scotland to remain part of the UK. He added that the majority of Scottish voters have chosen unity instead of division.