An election and a referendum are two vastly different things. The results of an election are for one cycle, whereas referenda are (ostensibly) permanent. Camero

An election and a referendum are two vastly different things. The results of an election are for one cycle, whereas referenda are (ostensibly) permanent. Cameron set both thresholds at 50%, but something like 60% would have been more appropriate. With Scotland, it’s a small population, aging rapidly, and yes, a very emotional issue. Support for independence rises and falls, but generally the “sea level” has been rising gradually. A vote coinciding with an unusually high tide could definitely lift it over. Compare to Brexit right now. Current polls show 57/43 in favor of reversing it. Cameron gambled on both of these as immediate-term political devices. Setting the low threshold was designed to show both independence and Brexit had no chance of ever passing. When Brexit did pass, Cameron resigned.