Home > Terms > English, UK (UE) > Scottish Independence Referendum 2014

A 2014 referendum on whether Scotland should stay in the UK or become an independent nation. Following the victory of the Scottish National Party in the Scottish Parliament election, the Scottish and the United Kingdom governments agreed on the Scottish independence Referendum Bill in November 2013, setting out the arrangements for the independence referendum. The Scottish National Party campaigned on the platform of Scottish independence. The referendum question, as recommended by the Electoral Commission, was "Should Scotland be an independent country?" – voters can answer only Yes or No. The option with the most votes will win the referendum, regardless of how many people turn out to vote.

The voting process dictates that constitutional arrangements are the responsibility of the UK Parliament. However, powers have been transferred to allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate for the referendum. This happened in the Referendum Agreement, which was signed by Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond on October 15 2012. As a result of this, the legislation that will allow the referendum to happen is currently making its way through the Scottish Parliament.

If a majority of those who vote want Scotland to be independent then Scotland would become an independent country after a process of negotiations. Following the negotiations Scotland would leave the United Kingdom and become a new and separate state.

If a majority of those who vote want to stay part of the UK, Scotland would remain a part of the United Kingdom, with its own devolved Parliament. The UK and Scottish governments would continue to make the changes to the powers of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish government that were agreed by the 2 parliaments in the Scotland Act 2012.