Alex Salmond stays away from Scottish referendum count

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/19/alex-almond-scolttish-referendum-count

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Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond has pulled out of attending his nearest referendum count centre in what is being interpreted as an early sign that he may be expecting defeat.

The SNP leader's staff had told the Guardian on polling day that the plan was that he would spend the day at his home in the north Aberdeenshire village of Strichen before attending a count centre in Aberdeenshire.

However, SNP sources have now confirmed that Salmond would be spending the night in Strichen and, in line with one part of the original plan, go to Edinburgh in the early morning.

The fact that the SNP leader will not be going to the count at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, where the count covers an area encompassing his own constituency, was being seen by some observers as an indicator that he expected the yes side to lose the referendum and was limiting his exposure.

Large numbers of photographers and reporters gathered at the centre in the expectation that Salmond would be arriving at some point.

The centre, where the count is taking place for the Aberdeenshire area, has been the location of previous SNP electoral successes. The area is home to important SNP eletoral strongholds. Aberdeen City, which was widely expected to deliver a no result, is taking place in another part of the city.