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distinct from those in the remainder of the UK have all contributed to the
continuation of Scottish culture and national identity since the 1707 union.
Following a referendum in 1997, a Scottish Parliament was re-
established, in the form of a devolved unicameral legislature comprising 129
members, having authority over many areas of domestic policy. The Scottish
National Party, (SNP), which supports Scottish independence, won an overall
majority in the 2011 Scottish Parliament general election and legislated for an
independence referendum which was held on 18 September 2014; a majority
of 55% to 45% rejected independence on an 85% voter turnout. The UK
Conservative Party won an overall majority in the 2015 UK general election
and legislated for a referendum on the UK's membership of the European
Union which was held on 23 June 2016; within Scotland, a majority of 62%
to 38% rejected withdrawal from the EU on a 67% voter turnout. Scotland is
represented in the UK Parliament by 59 MPs and in the European Parliament
by 6 MEPs. Scotland is also a member nation of the British–Irish Council,
and the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly.
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