The Brexit endorsement answered the big question about Britain's membership in the European Union, but it raised a whole new set of questions about the future of the United Kingdom. Scotland, for example, voted to stay in the UK just two years ago, but as it made clear on Thursday, it expected to stay part of the EU, too. "Scotland has delivered a strong, unequivocal vote to remain in the EU, and I welcome that endorsement of our European status," said Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after the Scottish Brexit vote was counted. "And while the overall result remains to be declared, the vote here makes clear that the people of Scotland see their future as part of the European Union." Or as Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, a Scot, put it:
Scotland notched the second-highest Remain vote in the referendum, 62 percent to 38 percent (Gibraltar voted to stay in the EU 96 percent to 4 percent). Northern Ireland, which will now have a land border with Ireland, also voted Remain, 56 percent to 44 percent. England and Wales both voted to Leave by 53 percent to 47 percent margins. The total UK vote was 52 percent to 48 percent.