MOSCOW, September 19 (RIA Novosti) - Despite achieving its main goal, London's campaign against Scotland's independence has undermined the political weight of UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Gideon Rachman, Financial Times" political commentator, wrote Friday.
"Cameron is likely to emerge from this campaign as a weaker political figure. Many in his party believe he gambled recklessly with the future of the country – by agreeing to a referendum on terms that, in retrospect, look very favourable to the independence movement," Rachman argued.
The prime minister also faces accusations of panicking, when the polls showed the pro-independence camp moving ahead briefly weeks before the vote, he added.
Rachman said he would consider Scotland's possible secession an "international political earthquake," but added that "the very spectacle of Scotland being allowed a peaceful vote on separation has profound implications." The case of how Scotland's independence movement was treated by Cameron is likely to affect other European nations, with Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister, who faces a powerful separatist movement in Catalonia, possibly "quietly cursing Mr Cameron for setting a precedent that his Spanish government remains determined not to follow," Rachman stated.
The journalist suggested that Britain will have to experience a "long period of constitutional uncertainty – which will only get worse, if Mr Cameron fulfils his promise to stage yet another referendum, this time on the UK's membership of the EU."
A referendum on Scotland's independence took place on Thursday. The results revealed that the nation wants to stay part of the United Kingdom with 44.7 percent in support of independence and 55.3 percent rejecting it.
