EDINBURGH, Scotland — Early returns from voting across Scotland show a lead for those opposed to declaring independence from the United Kingdom, with only three of 32 districts reporting. The big cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen have yet to report. While most districts were yet to report, opponents of independence ran up big margins in the first districts to provide results from Thursdays historic vote on whether to maintain the 307-year marriage and remain a part of the U.K.. The British pound was up slightly on news of the early results, as traders favored stability in keeping Great Britain united over the economic and political uncertainty that independence would bring. Results from the first of Scotlands 32 voting districts to report showed the opponents of independence ahead. In the area known as Clackman, where support for independence had been expected to be strong, the vote was 54% for No. In Orkney, another smaller region, the No forces won decisively with 67%. A third district, Shetland, saw a hefty 64% No vote. The big cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen have yet to report. With Scotlands 307-year-old marriage with England hanging in the balance, polls showed a tight race between unionists and nationalists, who argue Scotland would be better off with a divorce. A survey released late Thursday of people who said they voted found 54% against independence and 46% favoring severing ties with the United Kingdom. The survey by YouGov, an Internet-based market research firm, was of 1,800 people who said they voted at the polls, plus 800 who mailed in ballots. Turnout was expected to be massive. More than 4.2 million people had registered to vote - 97 percent of those eligible - including residents as young as 16.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 02:24:03 +0000
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