Following Scotland voting against independence from England in yesterday’s historic referendum, the UK government has revealed that any Scots who chose ‘yes’ would be free to set up a new country in the Middle East.

“Despite the result, we understand that there are many Scots out there who still don’t wish to be a part of our proud union,” said British Prime Minster David Cameron. “Which is why we’ve made arrangements for the creation of an independent Scottish state in a far away, mostly deserted and promised land known as Palestine.”

Many pro-independence voters have jumped on the new opportunity, and the first ships with Scottish settlers are due to set sail from Glasgow next week.