Edinburgh - There were mixed reactions in Edinburgh on Friday as the news broke that Scottish voters had rejected independence from the United Kingdom by a clear majority.
Despite the rain, supporters from both sides began gathering outside Holyrood, the Scottish parliament, in the early hours. “Yes” supporters were clearly dismayed and disappointed.
“I'm embarrassed because the world's eyes were on Scotland today and we let ourselves down,” Lynsey Harding, 31, unemployed, told reporters. “I genuinely don't know why people voted ‘no’.
“If the 'No' campaigners come round the corner and start being smug, they're not going to get a warm welcome.”
Dermot Barr, 30, who was covered in “Yes” stickers and waving Scotland's flag, the Saltire, added: “It's a bit devastating. But two million people just said they're not happy with the way Westminster are ruling and everybody needs to get up... and make sure that changes.”
Among the “No” supporters there was a mixture of relief and jubilation.
Steve Waite, 22, was among a group of medical students who stayed up all night to watch the results come in.
“It was a bit of a scare,” he said. “But the majority of Scots decided that the more cautious and progressive approach was the right decision rather than a radical and flippant attitude towards our future.”
“Scotland might have been able to do well on its own, but we're better together,” added Freya Richardson, 22, also a student. “Why be smaller when you could be one big country that does really well?”
She and her friend Arbell Lewis, 21, said they hoped the vote would not divide the people of Scotland, as had been feared in the run-up to the vote.
“Hopefully we should join together in the decision and support each other,” said Lewis. - Sapa-dpa