Polls close in Scotland; UK awaits results of independence referendum

September 19, 2014 02:48

Over the next eight hours or so, the future of the United Kingdom -- one of the worlds G7 powers and home to 64 million people -- will be decided. Scotland is deciding whether to stay or to leave.

After a referendum campaign lasting effectively two years, the Scots (but not the English, Welsh or Northern Irish -- the other members of the union of nations that make up the UK) have been voting today.

The campaign has generated extraordinary interest and excitement, turnout seems set to break all records and the polls have just closed.

The first area result is due at about 2am UK time -- in four hours -- and the final outcome should be known by breakfast later on Friday (ie, 4/5 hours later).

If Scotland votes to go it alone, the decision will be final and Alex Salmond, Scotlands first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party, wants independence on 24 March 2016.

From one perspective, Scotland leaving the UK would amount to the break up of one of the more prosperous, powerful and harmonious states on the planet, a political union that has lasted 307 years

Check out The Guardian's referendum live blog

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

No funding from Cong, Puri LS candidate returns ticket

'I tried a public donation drive to support my campaign for progressive politics without much success so far. I also tried to cut down the projected campaign spending to the minimum'

CSK looking for revenge against Punjab Kings

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will look to set their house in order and get back to winning ways when they face an upbeat yet unpredictable Punjab Kings for the second time in a row in the IPL match in Dharamsala on Sunday.

Ban on onion export lifted; MEP of $550/tonne imposed

The government on Saturday lifted the ban on onion exports but imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of $550 per tonne, amid ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the country. Last night, the government imposed a 40 per cent duty on export of...

Jai Ho: Was Sukhwinder The Composer?

'When Rahman reached the studio, he heard Sukhwinder fooling around on the mike. Rahman liked what he heard and incorporated it into Jai Ho.'

Markets wrong to hope worst of geopolitical crises over: Wood

Global financial markets are wrong in hoping that the worst is over in geopolitical crises such as the Iran-Israel conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, wrote Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies, in a recent note...