Scots decided not to break away from the United Kingdom after 307 years, but despite that result, it’s become clear that England is going to have to pay to keep the union together.
In results announced early Friday morning, voters rejected independence by a comfortable 10-point margin – far larger a gap than polls suggested in the waning days of the campaign.
That's when Prime Minister David Cameron stepped in, offering Edinburgh new and increased powers particularly in the areas of taxes, spending and welfare benefits - although it isn't clear exactly what these new powers will entail.
"There are a lot of deep divisions. 1.6 million people voted to be independent in Scotland," Director of Simon Fraser University's Centre of Scottish Studies Leith Davis told CTV's Canada AM. "They are going to be looking very carefully for change. And there were a lot of people who were soft Yeses, who were swayed to vote No and they are going to be looking for promises kept."
Davis said these promises were really significant in changing people's minds, but warns the other nations in the U.K. will expect increased powers if they are granted to Scotland.
"It started the ball rolling…the U.K. will never be the same," said Michael Cox, of the Scottish Society of Ottawa, to CTV's Canada AM. He was in favour of independence. "It is now on a path to change regardless of what happened last night."
Anne Moir, president of St. Andrew's Society, was hoping the union would hold, but agrees with Cox that the U.K. will never be the same.
"I think Scotland has come out better from this," she told Canada AM. "We have the best of both worlds. Scotland has been given the powers they've been wanting to have and yet they still have the union."
The man leading the charge for independence wasn't happy to secede, but acknowledges the new battle is keeping Cameron honest and making sure Westminster follows through with the promises.
"The unionist parties made vows late in the campaign to devolve more powers to Scotland. Scotland will expect these to be honoured in rapid force," Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond told supporters at a rally after the results were announced. "I don't think that we will ever be allowed to go back to business as usual."
Salmond initially said he would continue to serve in whatever role voters decided and would hold British leaders accountable.
But as calls for his resignation filled social media, Salmond told reporters Friday he won't seek re-election as leader in November. Until that time he will continue to serve as First Minister.
The proposal of the new powers is expected by November and legislation is expected to be drafted by January. Cameron has tried to convince Scots there will be a strict timetable.
While a new referendum isn't out of the question, Cameron suggested the issue has been settled "for a generation."
"I think it would be very difficult for Scotland to look at another referendum," said Cox. "There was so much passion, so much emotion…I think the country is drained from this event."
He added that while this may not be the massive sweeping change many were hoping for, he predicts Scotland will see incremental change.
