Scottish voters reject independence

Scotland has chosen to stay in the United Kingdom, spurning independence in a historic referendum that had worried allies and investors, results showed on Friday with more than two thirds of the vote declared.

Scotland’s final verdict on the union should be clear within two hours. Supporters of the United Kingdom have won 54 percent of the vote, according to Reuters calculations, and that share could climb.

The independence camp conceded that it had come up short. “Like thousands of others across the country I’ve put my heart and soul into this campaign and there is a real sense of disappointment that we’ve fallen narrowly short of securing a yes vote,” Scottish Nationalist Party deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said.

“It looks as if it’s not quite been enough and that’s deeply disappointing,” Sturgeon told the BBC. Sterling rose sharply while unionist campaigners clapped, cheered and poured drinks as results were announced. The Queen and Prime Minister David Cameron were expected to make statements later.