By Sylvain Gauiler
Scotland voted against independence from the United Kingdom on Thursday. Fifty-five percent of Scottish citizens decided against the uncertain future that would have faced this small independent country. British Prime Minister David Cameron is relieved by this outcome, avoiding his forced resignation. According to BBC, he said, “It is time for our United Kingdom to come together and move forward.”
The unprecedented 84 percent referendum turnout confirms the importance of the vote for the wide majority of Scotland. In order to clinch this political victory, the Conservative Party made many tradeoffs with the Scottish National Party, including greater fiscal powers to the parliament. The increased Scottish autonomy at the cost of its continued membership to the United Kingdom has fuelled burning separatist desires from Wales, Northern Ireland and even London, its wealthiest constituent. BBC reports that Cameron promised significant constitutional changes in Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Cameron is now in an unfavorable situation as he will have to deal with profound national divisions across Scotland and the whole United Kingdom. Indeed, internal divisions could have a lasting impact on politics.
(Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
The Guardian announced the Church of Scotland has offered a service of reconciliation following the referendum. Internal divisions could have a lasting impact on politics.
Even though Cameron thinks the Scotland referendum debate is settled for a generation, said The Huffington Post, the U.K. might undergo serious changes in a near future to address the lingering issues that this event has brought to light.
