2014 Scottish independence referendum

A referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom was held on 18 September 2014. The referendum posed the question, "Should Scotland be an independent country?", to which voters responded with "Yes" or "No." The result saw 55.3% (2,001,926 votes) voting against independence and 44.7% (1,617,989 votes) voting in favor, with a historically high turnout of 84.6%, the highest in the UK since the January 1910 general election.

The referendum was arranged under the Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013, passed by the Scottish Parliament in November 2013 following an agreement between the devolved Scottish government and the UK government. A simple majority was required for the independence proposal to pass. The electorate included almost 4.3 million people, extending the voting franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds for the first time in Scotland. Eligible voters were EU or Commonwealth citizens residing in Scotland aged 16 or over, with some exceptions.

The main campaign group for independence was Yes Scotland, while Better Together campaigned to maintain the union. The referendum saw involvement from various campaign groups, political parties, businesses, newspapers, and prominent individuals. Key issues discussed included the currency an independent Scotland would use, public expenditure, EU membership, and the significance of North Sea oil. An exit poll revealed that the retention of the pound sterling was the deciding factor for many No voters, while disaffection with Westminster politics motivated many Yes voters.