Scotland votes NO, reject independence from United Kingdom

Majority of voters in Scotland rejected independence from the United Kingdom Thursday, voting NO to defeat advocates of a separation, according to results of the poll.

Results from all 32 council areas, showed that the “No” side won with 2,001,926 votes over 1,617,989 for “Yes”, according to the BBC.

The score showed those in support of remaining in the union won 55 percent of the vote while separatists won 45 percent.

The vote was a big test for the U.K.’s 307-year-old union, and its outcome is a relief for millions of Britons who hoped the country will stay together.

It was also a respite for many allies, including the United States and the European Union, who wished the U.K. remained together.

While the break up the United Kingdom has been avoided, Britain’s leaders have agreed to give Scotland greater autonomy and more powers.

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, who led the effort for a separate Scotland, called for unity and urged the unionist parties to deliver on more powers.

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said he was delighted the country would remain together and said the commitments on extra powers would be honoured, according to the BBC.

He said the three main unionist parties at Westminster would now follow through with their promise of more powers for the Scottish Parliament.