konknaijaboy | On 19, Sep 2014

The pound has risen sharply as 44.7% vote ‘Yes’ while 55.3% vote ‘No’

The Scottish electorate’s rejection of independence was greeted with delight by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said that the victory margin of around 55%-45% had settled the issue “for a generation… perhaps for a lifetime”.

Speaking outside Downing Street, Mr Cameron said he would ensure that commitments to further devolution to Scotland made during the campaign would be “honoured in full”.

Earlier, Scottish National Party First Minister Alex Salmond acknowledged that his dream of leading his nation to independence was over, telling supporters in Edinburgh: “Scotland has by a majority decided not at this stage to become an independent country.

“I accept that verdict of the people and I call on all of Scotland to follow suit in accepting the democratic verdict of the people of Scotland.”

Turnout in the referendum on Scottish independence hit a record high for any election held in the UK since the introduction of universal suffrage in 1918.

The participation rate of 84.5% topped the previous best of 83.9% recorded in the 1950 general election and dwarfed the tallies in recent Westminster polls, which saw 65.1% vote in 2010.

What now for UK? 10 things you need to know

The pound has risen sharply and companies with Scottish links led the FTSE 100 Index higher as a relief rally took hold on financial markets following the rejection of independence.

Shares in Royal Bank of Scotland surged 3% while energy provider SSE, Glasgow-based engineer Weir and Standard Life were up by around 2%.
Scottish Independence result: How historic night unfolded on Glasgow’s streets

Sterling climbed by almost 1% overnight to as high as 1.65 against the US dollar as traders reacted to the first poll results showing support for the No campaign.

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