Although many thought that the undecided and undeclared voters would break YES, they mostly broke NO, giving the Better Together campaign a wider margin of victory than it expected after recent poll scares. Scotland has earned the admiration of the world for the flawless way in which it conducted the referendum, with a record breaking turnout and the complete absence of disorder. The whole United Kingdom wakes up stronger this morning with a greater sense not only of its own worth, but also by how much it is valued as a power in the world. Moreover the Scots, by their example, have shown how effective democracy can be in a world of violence, discord and civil war.
Although the argument about Scottish independence is now over, the one about the structures of government in the UK as a whole, is about to begin. Central to that is the change in the constitution to prevent MPs from devolved areas voting on English matters. The implications of this are constitutionally huge and will bring about the most profound changes in the way the UK is governed, not least because of the 64 million who populate the Union, 56 million are in England. It will also reaffirm the UK’s durability and modernise the outdated and in parts undemocratic, structures of government. This will in turn strengthen her credentials as a power upon the world stage.
To get there will take a good deal of argument and as in Scotland, passions will run high. After a night more or less without sleep watching the referendum results, it will not be helpful to readers if I attempt to advance the parameters of the problems and opportunities now, but watch this space. Meanwhile it is a good day for the UK, for the EU for NATO. Above all it is a good day for Scotland. We have heard a good deal of nonsense in the recent past about beacons of democracy, which turned out to be no such thing. Well Scotland is a beacon today, and its light is admired the world over.