September 24, 2014 12:11 am
Image: David Kilpatrick/Toronto Star
Scotland has voted to remain part of the United Kingdom (UK).
The United Kingdom is short for the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.” It is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Last Thursday (Sept. 18), the people of Scotland took a vote (called a “referendum”) to decide whether they would stay as part of the UK or become an independent country.
The “No” vote won—meaning, they decided not to become independent.
About 55 per cent of the voters voted “no” and about 45 per cent voted “yes.” Voter turnout was high—nearly 85 per cent. (That means that 85 per cent of all people who were allowed to vote, did.)
Nearly 3,620,000 votes were cast.
For the referendum, people as young as 16 years old were allowed to vote. Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, said the voting age should be permanently lowered to 16 from now on.
According to the BBC, the first minister said “the case for 16- and 17-year-olds being allowed to vote in all UK elections… was overwhelming and unanswerable.”
The Queen of England was said to be very happy about the decision made by the Scottish people. According to the British news service the BBC, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, said he had “never heard someone so happy” as the Queen was about the vote to remain within the UK.
The Queen has not confirmed that she said that. Buckingham Palace issued a statement that said the Queen was “above politics,” according to the BBC.
source : http://teachingkidsnews.com/2014/09/24/1-scotland-votes-stay-uk/
