And the Nays Have It

With a massive 85% voter turnout, the people of Scotland decided against secession from the United Kingdom in a referendum this Thursday. The final outcome of the vote was a 55.25%-44.65% split between the “No” and “Yes” campaigns, a wider margin than predicted by polls. Alex Salmond, head of the Scottish National Party and de facto leader of the “Yes” campaign, conceded defeat early Friday morning, calling the vote a “triumph for democratic politics.” Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg echoed earlier promises of increased autonomy should Scotland elect to remain in the union, saying “we must now deliver on time and in full the radical package of newly devolved powers to Scotland.” As Scotland stands to gain greater self-rule, other politicians, including Labour leader Ed Miliband, called for similar reforms across the U.K. It remains to be seen what form these changes may take, but for now the United Kingdom remains intact.