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| Scottish independence: First referendum results declared | Scottish independence: First referendum results declared |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The first areas to declare their vote in the Scottish independence referendum have rejected leaving the UK, as counting continues across the country. | |
| Clackmannanshire was the earliest to declare, with "No" winning 19,036 votes and "Yes" on 16,350 on an 89% turnout. | Clackmannanshire was the earliest to declare, with "No" winning 19,036 votes and "Yes" on 16,350 on an 89% turnout. |
| Voters in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland also voted against independence. | |
| Counting will carry on through the night, with the final result expected after 06:30 BST (05:30 GMT) on Friday. | Counting will carry on through the night, with the final result expected after 06:30 BST (05:30 GMT) on Friday. |
| In Orkney, "No" won 10,004 votes compared with 4,883 for "Yes" while in Shetland voters rejected independence by 9,951 votes to 5,669. | In Orkney, "No" won 10,004 votes compared with 4,883 for "Yes" while in Shetland voters rejected independence by 9,951 votes to 5,669. |
| In the Western Isles, the result was 10,544 to 9,195 in favour of Scotland staying in the UK. | |
| Polling expert Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University said the Clackmannanshire result would be a "considerable disappointment" to the "Yes" side, who would have hoped to have done better in what is Scotland's smallest mainland local authority. | Polling expert Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University said the Clackmannanshire result would be a "considerable disappointment" to the "Yes" side, who would have hoped to have done better in what is Scotland's smallest mainland local authority. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| Commenting on the Clackmannanshire and Orkney results, former Labour Home Secretary Lord Reid said: "It's obviously gratifying to get the first two results under our belt by fairly significant margins. | Commenting on the Clackmannanshire and Orkney results, former Labour Home Secretary Lord Reid said: "It's obviously gratifying to get the first two results under our belt by fairly significant margins. |
| "But that's two out of 32. It does wonders for the morale of the troops here, but in the very nature of things there will be ups and downs and I'm sure there will be one or two that rather than creating euphoria here, create a bit of despair." | "But that's two out of 32. It does wonders for the morale of the troops here, but in the very nature of things there will be ups and downs and I'm sure there will be one or two that rather than creating euphoria here, create a bit of despair." |
| Speaking from the count in Perth, Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "At this stage it looks as if Better Together is ahead, I would accept that, but we need to wait to see all of the work that is going on on the tables to see exactly how the vote is going to separate between the two counts. | |
| "I think we have to be really careful about making judgements based on the three declarations that have taken place. | |
| "The gap between the two positions is about 13,000 votes. These are three relatively small local authority areas. there are much bigger votes to be cast in other parts of the country. It is a very early stage in the night." | |
| A YouGov on-the-day survey published shortly after polls closed suggested "No" was on 54% and "Yes" on 46%. | A YouGov on-the-day survey published shortly after polls closed suggested "No" was on 54% and "Yes" on 46%. |
| The survey questioned 1,828 people after they voted, together with the postal votes of 800 people, although it is not a traditional exit poll. | The survey questioned 1,828 people after they voted, together with the postal votes of 800 people, although it is not a traditional exit poll. |
| A "Yes" vote in the ballot would end the 307-year-old union between Scotland and the rest of the UK. | A "Yes" vote in the ballot would end the 307-year-old union between Scotland and the rest of the UK. |
| Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond tweeted: "This has been a remarkable day. Scotland's future truly is in Scotland's hands", | Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond tweeted: "This has been a remarkable day. Scotland's future truly is in Scotland's hands", |
| Analysis: Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor | Analysis: Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor |
| The first three results are a hat-trick for the Better Together side but they are three of the smallest council areas in Scotland. | The first three results are a hat-trick for the Better Together side but they are three of the smallest council areas in Scotland. |
| In terms of Shetland, they weren't notably keen on devolution in the first place, so it is no great surprise that they are not exactly giving a resounding endorsement to the concept of independence. | In terms of Shetland, they weren't notably keen on devolution in the first place, so it is no great surprise that they are not exactly giving a resounding endorsement to the concept of independence. |
| Of the three results, of course, the Clackmannanshire result is far and away the most significant in that it was an area that perhaps should have been doing rather better for the "Yes" side. | Of the three results, of course, the Clackmannanshire result is far and away the most significant in that it was an area that perhaps should have been doing rather better for the "Yes" side. |
| Read more from Brian | Read more from Brian |
| As soon as Scotland's 2,608 polling places closed, work began to transport hundreds of ballot boxes to counting centres in each of Scotland's 32 local authorities. | As soon as Scotland's 2,608 polling places closed, work began to transport hundreds of ballot boxes to counting centres in each of Scotland's 32 local authorities. |
| These will include votes cast from the 789,024 postal vote applications, which was the largest volume of registration for postal votes ever in Scotland. | These will include votes cast from the 789,024 postal vote applications, which was the largest volume of registration for postal votes ever in Scotland. |
| The bulk of the local results are expected to come between 03:00 and 05:00 BST (02:00 and 04:00 GMT) on Friday. | The bulk of the local results are expected to come between 03:00 and 05:00 BST (02:00 and 04:00 GMT) on Friday. |
| And, for the first time, 16 and 17-year-olds all across Scotland were able to vote. | And, for the first time, 16 and 17-year-olds all across Scotland were able to vote. |
| Once the results from all the local authority areas are known, chief counting officer Mary Pitcaithly will declare the result of the referendum at the Royal Highland Centre outside Edinburgh. | Once the results from all the local authority areas are known, chief counting officer Mary Pitcaithly will declare the result of the referendum at the Royal Highland Centre outside Edinburgh. |
| However, running totals - which can be made from the first declaration onwards - may indicate a result earlier in the morning. | However, running totals - which can be made from the first declaration onwards - may indicate a result earlier in the morning. |
| Many councils have reported busy polling stations throughout Thursday, with some seeing queues both ahead of the polls opening and throughout the morning. | Many councils have reported busy polling stations throughout Thursday, with some seeing queues both ahead of the polls opening and throughout the morning. |
| East Dunbartonshire has recorded the highest turnout so far, at 91%, with East Renfrewshire and Stirling slightly behind on 90.5% and 90.1% respectively. | East Dunbartonshire has recorded the highest turnout so far, at 91%, with East Renfrewshire and Stirling slightly behind on 90.5% and 90.1% respectively. |
| But turnout in Glasgow was lower, at 75%, while in Dundee it was 78.8% and Aberdeen 81.7%. | But turnout in Glasgow was lower, at 75%, while in Dundee it was 78.8% and Aberdeen 81.7%. |
| Large numbers of independence supporters have gathered in George Square, in the centre of Glasgow, ahead of the result. | Large numbers of independence supporters have gathered in George Square, in the centre of Glasgow, ahead of the result. |
| Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who led the pro-independence "Yes" campaign, cast his ballot at Ritchie Hall in Strichen, Aberdeenshire. | Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who led the pro-independence "Yes" campaign, cast his ballot at Ritchie Hall in Strichen, Aberdeenshire. |
| Pro-Union Better Together leader Alistair Darling was greeted by a mixture of cheers and boos as he arrived at the Church Hill Theatre in Edinburgh to cast his vote. | Pro-Union Better Together leader Alistair Darling was greeted by a mixture of cheers and boos as he arrived at the Church Hill Theatre in Edinburgh to cast his vote. |
| Referendum night | Referendum night |
| The BBC's Scotland Decides will bring continuous, up-to-date coverage all through the night, as well as comprehensive analysis. On Twitter, keep abreast of all the action overnight via @BBCPolitics and @BBCScotlandNews. | The BBC's Scotland Decides will bring continuous, up-to-date coverage all through the night, as well as comprehensive analysis. On Twitter, keep abreast of all the action overnight via @BBCPolitics and @BBCScotlandNews. |
| A Scotland Decides programme presented by Huw Edwards will be broadcast on BBC One from 22:35 BST, while Scotland Decides The Result will be broadcast on BBC One Scotland. | A Scotland Decides programme presented by Huw Edwards will be broadcast on BBC One from 22:35 BST, while Scotland Decides The Result will be broadcast on BBC One Scotland. |
| Or follow the results on BBC Radio 4's Scotland Decides programme presented by James Naughtie and Rachel Burden. BBC Radio Scotland will also provide live coverage from 22:00 BST until 06:00 BST. | Or follow the results on BBC Radio 4's Scotland Decides programme presented by James Naughtie and Rachel Burden. BBC Radio Scotland will also provide live coverage from 22:00 BST until 06:00 BST. |
| You can also watch and listen to all the live television and radio coverage on the BBC News website. | You can also watch and listen to all the live television and radio coverage on the BBC News website. |
| Did you vote in the referendum? Are you at a referendum party? Send us your pictures and tell us what the mood is like where you are by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Did you vote in the referendum? Are you at a referendum party? Send us your pictures and tell us what the mood is like where you are by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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