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Scottish independence referendum facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Scottish independence referendum in 2014 was a special vote. People in Scotland decided if they wanted Scotland to become an independent country. This means Scotland would be separate from the United Kingdom. Or, they could choose for Scotland to stay part of the United Kingdom. The vote happened on 18 September 2014. Most people voted for Scotland to stay part of the United Kingdom.

The "Yes" Campaign for Independence

The "Yes" campaign wanted Scotland to become an independent country. This means Scotland would make all its own laws. It would not be part of the United Kingdom anymore. The leader of the "Yes" campaign was Alex Salmond. He was the First Minister of Scotland at that time.

The "No" Campaign to Stay in the UK

The "No" campaign wanted Scotland to stay part of the United Kingdom. Many important leaders supported this. These included David Cameron, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Also, Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Ed Miliband, the Leader of the Opposition, wanted Scotland to remain in the UK. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown also worked to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom.

Referendum Results

The question on the ballot was: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

  • No votes: 2,001,926 (55.3%)
  • Yes votes: 1,617,989 (44.7%)
  • Total votes counted: 3,623,344
  • Number of people who could vote: 4,283,392

The final result was that Scotland remained part of the United Kingdom.

Images for kids

  • A National Conversation launch

    The Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond, and the Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, led the independence campaign

  • Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber 2

    Debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament

  • Yes Scotland 2014 - geograph.org.uk - 4135401

    Yes campaign poster on a shop

  • Scottish IndyRef 2014 12

    Tenement block in Leith with both Yes and No referendum posters and Union flag

  • Indyref aye painted police box at flodden wall

    Indyref "aye" painted police box at Flodden Wall, Edinburgh

  • England - Scotland border - geograph.org.uk - 477405

    The Scottish government proposed that there would be no border controls on the Anglo–Scottish border.

  • Trident boat

    A Trident missile-armed Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarine leaving its base in the Firth of Clyde

  • Elizabeth II greets NASA GSFC employees, May 8, 2007 edit

    Queen Elizabeth II

  • Referendum campaigning, Peebles High Street - geograph.org.uk - 4167289

    Pro-independence campaigners in Peebles.

  • Anti-Scottish independence campaigner - geograph.org.uk - 4159537

    Jim Murphy speaking against Scottish independence in Glasgow.

  • The Crimean referendum - a comparison with the Scottish referendum (13306114335)

    English language brochure produced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office comparing the 2014 Crimean status referendum with the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

  • Scotland Independence Referendum Result 2014

    Referendum result

  • Wfm glasgow cityhall

    Acts of violence were committed in Glasgow's George Square after the referendum result.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Referéndum para la independencia de Escocia de 2014 para niños

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