Scotland voted to become an independent country during the referendum from September 2014.

The story behind the answer

False. In the 18 September 2014 Scottish independence referendum, voters chose to remain in the United Kingdom: about 55% voted “No” and 45% voted “Yes,” with a very high turnout of roughly 85%. The ballot question was “Should Scotland be an independent country?”—so a majority rejection meant no independence.

Context: The vote followed the 2012 Edinburgh Agreement and led to pledges of greater devolution to the Scottish Parliament (“The Vow”). The issue resurfaced after the 2016 Brexit referendum, in which Scotland largely voted to remain in the EU, fueling continued debate about a possible “IndyRef2.” Memory tip: “2014—55 said No,” marking the year and the margin that kept Scotland in the UK.