This afternoon I wrote that Scotland votes today. Now, given the time difference of some 7 hours, we know that the Scots voted roughly 55% to 45% to remain in the United Kingdom. See the Associated Press story.
As I wrote this afternoon, that isn't the most exciting outcome, but it's the one that is best for both the U.K. and Scotland. Were I a resident of Scotland, I would have voted "no."
I expect England to want its own parliament and its own devo-max, ditto Wales and Northern Ireland. In the long run the U.K. will likely end up as a federal system with considerable "state" autonomy, not unlike their unruly former colonies across the Atlantic. Perhaps the national parliament will only involve itself with issues of defense, foreign relations, and whatever regulations all four "states" can agree should be U.K.-wide.
The "no" vote means it will be harder for the U.K. to muster a majority in favor of leaving the EU. That's assuming (a) the Tories win a majority at the next election and (b) Cameron keeps his word to hold a referendum on continued EU membership.
