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Scottish referendum: Voters to reject independence - BBC Scottish referendum: Scotland votes no to independence
(35 minutes later)
Scotland will vote to stay in the United Kingdom after rejecting independence, the BBC has predicted. Scotland has voted to stay in the United Kingdom after voters decisively rejected independence.
With 26 out of the country's 32 council areas having declared after Thursday's vote, the "No" side has a 54% of the vote, with the "Yes" campaign on 46%. With 30 out of the country's 32 council areas having declared after Thursday's vote, the "No" side has an unassailable lead of 1,877,252 votes to 1,512,688.
By 05:15 BST (06:15 GMT), the "No" campaign had more than 1,397,000 votes, with "Yes" on just over 1,176,000. The winning total needed was 1,852,828. Nationally, the margin of victory is about 55% to 45%.
A total of 1,852,828 votes is needed for victory. The vote is the culmination of a two-year campaign. The vote is the culmination of a two-year campaign. Talks will now begin on devolving more powers to Scotland.
The BBC is predicting on the basis of votes declared so far by Scotland's local authorities the "No" side will win the referendum with 55% of the vote while "Yes" will secure 45% of the vote. Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, has said he accepts his defeat.
This margin of victory is some three points greater than that anticipated by the final opinion polls. But the leader of the pro-independence campaign said the 1.6m votes cast for the 'Yes' campaign represented a substantial vote for Scottish independence at some time in the future.
He called on the main unionist parties to make good on their promises on greater powers being devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
This margin of victory for the Better Together campaign is greater than that anticipated by the final opinion polls.
Glasgow, Scotland's largest council area and the third largest city in Britain, voted in favour of independence by 194,779 to 169,347, with Dundee, West Dunbartonshire and North Lanarkshire also voting "Yes".Glasgow, Scotland's largest council area and the third largest city in Britain, voted in favour of independence by 194,779 to 169,347, with Dundee, West Dunbartonshire and North Lanarkshire also voting "Yes".
But Aberdeen City voted "No" by a margin of more than 20,000 votes, while there have also been big wins for the pro-UK campaign in many other areas. But Edinburgh, the nation's capital, rejected independence by 194,638 to 123,927, while Aberdeen City voted "No" by a margin of more than 20,000 votes. There have also been big wins for the pro-UK campaign in many other areas.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who led the pro-independence "Yes" campaign, is expected to make a statement from his official residence at Bute House in Edinburgh at 10:00 BST (11:00 GMT). Mr Salmond's deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, said in an earlier concession statement that there was a "real sense of disappointment that we have fallen narrowly short of securing a 'Yes' vote".
In his first public comment since the results started coming in, Mr Salmond tweeted: "Well done to Glasgow, our Commonwealth city, and to the people of Scotland for such incredible support." She told the BBC the projected result was "a deep personal and political disappointment" but said "the country has been changed forever".
Ms Sturgeon said she would work with "anyone in any way" to secure more powers for Scotland.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I've spoken to Alistair Darling (head of the pro-UK Better Together campaign) - and congratulated him on a well-fought campaign."Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I've spoken to Alistair Darling (head of the pro-UK Better Together campaign) - and congratulated him on a well-fought campaign."
Mr Cameron is expected to respond to Scotland's decision in a live televised address following the final result.Mr Cameron is expected to respond to Scotland's decision in a live televised address following the final result.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the BBC the projected result was "a deep personal and political disappointment" but said "the country has been changed forever".
Ms Sturgeon said she would work with "anyone in any way" to secure more powers for Scotland.