The Scottish independence vote – Twitter reaction: Armando Iannucci, Stu Campbell, Piers Morgan and more have their say
As the dust settled on a Scottish Independence campaign which resulted in a 55 per cent vote to keep the United Kingdom intact, Twitter reaction was mixed.
Independence supporters in Edinburgh hear the result.
The Scottish comedy writer Armando Iannucci posted about the record breaking turnout for the plebiscite saying:
84.6% One way to unite today would be for every Scot to wear that number as a badge of pride. An extraordinary turnout. #indyref
— Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) September 19, 2014
While English-born actor Simon Pegg expressed his sympathy for the losing side
Feel sad for those who campaigned hard for a yes vote. Hopefully some meaningful change will come of this. It was by no means a landslide.
— Simon Pegg (@simonpegg) September 19, 2014
Influential independence supporter Stu Campbell had trouble hiding his disappointment at the result posting
TV just switched itself off. I'm taking the hint. We gave it a shot, folks. Our countrymen and women bottled it and failed us all. — Wings Over Scotland (@WingsScotland) September 19, 2014
Campbell, who told The Drum he would stop blogging in the event of a No vote, posted on his website: “We’ll be taking some much-needed time off before coming to a decision about whether the site will carry on or not. Right now it’s difficult to think of any useful purpose it can serve." He added: “But decisions shouldn’t be made in haste in the depths of defeat."
The early editions of the national newspapers, all of whom argued for a No vote, were jubilant. The Sun led with: “Union Back,” while the Daily Mirror splashed with “Its No!, Great Britain Saved.” Across a picture of crying Yes supporters The Times went with “We stay together,” while the Independent’s front page proclaimed: “The Re-United Kingdom.”
Some politicians took the issue of the new powers promised by the three main party leaders to the Scottish Parliament. UKIP leader Nigel Farage tweeted
The English are 86% by population of this Union. They’ve been left out of all of this for the last 18 years.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) September 19, 2014
Meanwhile former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan, who has been vocal on social media about his support for a no vote, struck a note of reconciliation
I love Scots, even the abusive ones who want to do strange things to my bampot. Glad we're keeping our dysfunctional UK family together. — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 19, 2014