EDINBURGH, Scotland — Scottish voters have resoundingly rejected independence, deciding to remain part of the United Kingdom after a historic referendum that shook the country to its core.
The decision prevented a rupture of a 307-year union with England, bringing a huge sigh of relief to Britain’s economic and political establishment, including Prime Minister David Cameron, who faced calls for his resignation if Scotland had broken away.
The vote on Thursday — 55 percent against independence to 45 percent in favor — saw an unprecedented turnout of just under 85 percent.
“We have chosen unity over division,” Alistair Darling, head of the No campaign, said early Friday in Glasgow.
Independence leader Alex Salmond’s impassioned plea to launch a new nation fell short, with Scots choosing instead the security of remaining in union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Still, the result establishes a whole new political dynamic in the United Kingdom, with Cameron appearing outside No. 10 Downing Street to pledge more powers for regional governments.
He promised to live up to earlier promises to give Scotland new powers on taxes, spending and welfare. He said the new plans will be agreed upon by November, with draft legislation by January.
Here in Columbus, a handful of residents who are natives of Scotland are generally pleased with the outcome of the vote. They were in favor of Scotland remaining in the U.K.
“I’m very much in the No camp,” Pauline Crouse, who works at Mississippi University for Women, said as she waited to hear news of the vote Thursday afternoon. “I’m proud of being from Scotland, but I’m proud of being U.K., too, and have we have accomplished a lot together over the past 300 years.”
Crouse, whose dad is from Ohio, is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Scotland. She was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, but has been in the U.S. for about a dozen years now.
“We are our own country already,” she said. “While I do think Westminster should do far more than they are doing for Scotland, I recognize that we can achieve more if we work together. There are just so many questions that would go along with breaking from the UK, serious questions. What happens to our free health care or our free education? Would we keep those things? What I see from the Yes side is a wish list, but I think there are some serious consequences attached to independence.”
Like Crouse, Pat Kaye is from Aberdeen, Scotland. She moved to the U.S. 50 years ago.
Now recovering from a stroke, Kaye was not available for an interview, but her daughter, Roslyn Davis, said her mother was firmly in the ‘No’ camp.
“She told me if she could vote, she would vote against it,” said Davis, was born in Aberdeen and left with her parents at age 6. “I would vote No, too, although I haven’t been following it that closely. I do know that we have an aunt and some cousins who still live there and they are voting against it.”
Then there is Henry Barclay, 65, who went from undecided to Yes in recent days.
A native of Glasgow who also lived in Edinburgh, Barclay moved to the U.S. with his wife, Alicia, 36 years ago. A retiree from Weyerhaeuser, Barclay said he had been on the fence until recently.
“At first, I wasn’t sure,” Barclay said. “But because of all the people that keep coming in in the past month or so saying, ‘You can’t do this. You’re too small, etc.,’ You tell me I can’t do something, I’m going to show you. So I think I would vote in favor of independence. I guess I’m a stubborn Scot.”
Salmond had argued that Scots could go it alone because of its extensive oil reserves and high levels of ingenuity and education. He said Scotland would flourish alone, free of interference from any London-based government.
Many saw it as a “heads versus hearts” campaign, with cautious older Scots concluding that independence would be too risky financially, while younger ones were enamored with the idea of building their own country.
Dispatch columnist/editorial writer Slim Smith contributed to this report.
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