Scottish independence campaign - live play yes or no here http://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event-detail/462/the-yesno-plays.aspx
The news, video and comment as Scotland votes in an independence referendum
2:00PM BST 18 Sep 2014
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15.25 Here's Ed Miliband on the doorstep in Glasgow. "Polls are open
until 10pm, don't forget to vote," he Tweets.
And here's Anton Doherty, playing today, and everyday, for the tourists on
Westminster Bridge.
15.00 TROUBLE FOR CAMERON
An overwhelming majority of Tory MPs oppose David Cameron's promise to preserve the Barnett Fomula on top of extra powers for Scots in the event of a no vote, a new poll shows.
The PM faces a bruising showdown with his own backbenchers after promising to retain the formula, which was established in the 1970s and awards Scotland £1,623 a head more in Scotland than in England. The pledge to keep the formula appeared in a joint statement by Cameron, Clegg and Miliband in the Daily Record.
Polling of MP by Dods, the political information service, found 63 per cent think the formula should be changed - including 83 per cent of Tories, 41 per cent of Labour and 78 per cent of Lib Dems.
MPs are also opposed to sharing the pound with an independent state - 82 per cent overall, with 95 per cent of Tories and 72 per cent of Labour opposed. Two-thirds of MPs said the referendum has damaged relations with Scotland.
Claire Perry became the first minister to break ranks with Mr Cameron over the policy this morning, saying there can be "no financial party bags to appease Mr Salmond" (see 0910). James Gray, another Tory, said Mr Cameron cannot go on "feeding an addiction". (see 1010). Better Together folk are dismayed that Tories are choosing to have this row now, rather than after polls closed. Yes are delighted, of course.
14.50 Reports on social media that some polling stations have closed after 100 per cent turn out are untrue - they remain open so that people can hand in postal ballots.
But turn out is likely to be extraordinarily high - perhaps 85 per cent.
14.45 It's the Great British Break Up! Mary Berry, the television cookery star, has come out against independence.
"We should all stay as a family," she said at a charity screening of Downton Abbey last night. "It's been like that forever and I think that's how it should stay."
But Julian Fellowes, the show's creator, is on the fence. “I’d feel sorry to see the union lost, but I feel quite strongly this is a matter for Scotland.
“We keep harrying them from down here, telling them this is what they can’t have if they vote this way and so on. I think we should leave them alone to come to their own decision."
14.30 Tom Rowley, the Telegraph's Special Correspondent, sends this from Alloa, Clackmannanshire - the capital of Yes country.
THE banner outside Alloa Baptist Church felt oddly appropriate this morning: “Try praying”. After years of campaigning in the Scottish independence referendum, that is all both sides can do now.
“They’re having to pray,” joshed the Yes campaigner to his No counterpart, as both stood beneath the banner to ask voters leaving the church hall where they had marked their X.
Yes voters here, at the heart of Clackmannanshire, an hour north of Edinburgh, are not reticent about their politics. Saltires fly from homes, offices and cars. One man sported three Yes badges: not just wearing his heart on his sleeve, but on his lapel and his “man bag” too.
Before the polls opened, bookmakers said this was one of the Scottish counties most likely to vote Yes. There are as many SNP seats on the council as Labour, an SNP member of the Scottish Parliament, and the area elected one of the first nationalist MPs to the Westminster Parliament in 1974.
In Alloa’s Yes “hub”, the campaign’s headquarters, they have run out of merchandise: Yes posters, badges, wristbands – and even Saltires – have all sold out. Only two balloons remained. “We can’t buy them in,” said one volunteer.
Last night, at a supposedly impromptu “flashmob” in the city centre, supporters of independence sang Flower of Scotland before chanting: “Scotland! Scotland, Scotland!” One man’s cry of “you can shove the United Kingdom up your ----” was received less enthusiastically.
But, emerging from the Baptist church, Esther Matheson said No voters like her were simply less vocal about their choice.
“I haven’t [put up a poster] and I never would,” said the 61-year-old housewife. “I would never try to influence anybody and I don’t like to advertise what I’m doing. I would never stick things on my car or wear badges.”
She is happy with the constitutional status quo. “We can’t turn it back if we make a bad decision,” she said.
A few minutes later, Anne Wilson, a 60-year-old grandmother, voted Yes. “My kids were going to kill me if I didn’t,” she said. What had they said to her? “I don’t think I could say that – it involved an F word. I’ve got a grandson and my son said: ‘don’t ---- up my son’s future’. My daughter was more or less the same. We’re old fogeys, ready to drop off the planet anyway.
“I know what I’ve had [so far] – it can only get better.”
Moira Love, a 49-year-old mobile hairdresser, has never voted in an election before. But she is voting Yes because “Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world – and yet we’ve got food banks”.
Regardless of tomorrow’s result, she said she will continue to vote in elections, and campaign for independence.
It’s Over and Done With, sang The Proclaimers, practically the nationalists’ in-house band. Today, the electioneering is certainly over. But done with? That’s the only thing you can safely bet against.
14.00 The Parish Hall at Jamestown, which was graffied overnight with slogans including 'Vote Yes or else', and "No voters will be shot", has been repainted.
13.40 Here's Alex Salmond, painted overnight on Fashion Street, east London.
13.30 Here's Eck
Alex Salmond poses for photographs with school children after casting his ballot at Ritchie Hall in Strichen.
<noframe>Twitter: Alex Salmond - Wonderful to meet this lovely lady at the polls who said, "I've been waiting all my life for this!" <a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=hash&q=%23LetsDoThis" target="_blank">#LetsDoThis</a> <a href="http://t.co/6dOdG6179u" target="_blank">http://t.co/6dOdG6179u</a></noframe>
13.00 Today's YouGov poll for the Times raises interesting questions about which side ran a better campaign. I've reproduced as a table below.
Over the last few weeks, have you been contacted in any of the following ways? (results are %)
The polling also suggests that many No voters are 'worried' about a negative
reaction.
Some 47 per cent of YES voters have worn a sticker or badge advertising that, against just 20 per cent of NO voters. Asked why they had not worn a badge, they gave the following reasons.
12.50 Police Scotland has confirmed that a 44-year-old man has been detained after an alleged assault at a polling station in Clydebank. The man was arrested in the town’s Faifley Road at 8.30am and is expected to appear in Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday.
12.40 In Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, a demostration takes place in support of Scottish independence.
"I support the Scots. Their referendum is going peacefully, without war. I'm very jealous, and I wish them all the best," tells Natalia Isaeva tells the patriotic Russian channel LifeNews.
Why's it significant? Moscow watches the referendum closely. In part, because Scottish independence puts a big question mark over the future of Britain's nuclear arsenal, and the Nato patrols that intercept stray Russian flights.
But more immediately because Moscow has sought to legitimise the annexation of Crimea and the Russia-backed separatist movement in Donetsk and other Ukrainian cities with a series of hastily-assembled referendums, and they regard the Scottish vote as reinforcing that legitimacy. So much, in fact, that Saltires have been seen at demos in Sevastopol, and top separatists refer on twitter to the 'Scottish People's Republic'.
12.30 Around 1,000 people, including leaders from the Better Together and Yes campaigns, are expected to attend the Church of Scotland’s post-referendum service of reconciliation at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on Sunday.
The Rt Rev John Chalmers, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, will preach on the need to promote “healing where there has been hurt and unity where there has been division”. The service can be watched online on the kirk’s website
.
12.25 A new poll puts NO six points ahead. The Ipsos Mori poll for the Evening Standard puts No on 53 and Yes on 47.
A YouGov poll for the Times last night put No four ahead - 52-48. Panelbase got the same result. A separate Ipsos Mori poll for STV released last night gave a closer race - 51-49.
The poll found that six in 10 of those voting for Scotland to stay in the union were motivated more by "fear" about the risks of independence than "hope" for the future. By contrast eight in 10 Yes voters said they were motivated more by hope than fear.
A women wears 'Yes' stickers on her face on a "short walk to freedom" march in Edinburgh
The poll highlighted a significant gender divide, with men 53 per cent of men favouring independence while 58 per cent of women said they intended to vote for Scotland to stay in the union.
People aged between 35 and 34 were the most likely to vote yes, dividing 73 to 27, while those over-55 were split two to one in favour of Scotland staying in the Union.
This is Gordon Brown voting in North Queensferry this morning.
12.10 Any Scot who's been to New York will tell you that New Yorkers love Scots, and will tell you from which village their great-great uncle emigrated.
The New York Post has gone 'mad for plaid' (that's tartan, to you or I), and says Americans are mad for all things Caledonian.
The Statue of Liberty comes out for Yes in Niddrie, Edinburgh
12.00 The government of France has carefully avoided expressing an opinion about Scottish independence, but a former far-left presidential candidate has summed up the views of many French people by saying he would vote “yes”, says David Chazan in Paris.
“I would obviously vote for Scottish independence because I’m too keen on history not to know that Scotland is the traditional ally of the French ever since the Ancien Régime,” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a maverick politician who ran for president in 2012 as the candidate of the Front de Gauche.
What does the world think of Scottish independence?
11.45 Chancellor Angela Merkel and most of Germany’s political establishment have chosen not to comment about the prospect of an independent Scotland but there is little doubt that they view the possibility with alarm, writes Tony Paterson in Berlin
Their main concern is the potentially negative consequences of separation for the European Union as a whole. These were outlined in Germany’s mass media as Scottish voters went the he polls on Thursday.
"Separation would have consequences for the whole of Europe,” wrote Germany’s mass circulation Bild newspaper,“ The most Catalonians want to be "free" from Spain. And the Corsicans? The Basques? What about South Tirol?” the paper asked.
“David Cameron would be swept out of office just like Lord North after the loss of American colonies in the 18th century. Boris Johnson is waiting in the wings,“ Bild added.
Alex Salmond poses for photographs with Yes campaigners in Turriff
Germany's influential Der Spiegel maagazine published a commentary headlined “A shame for Great Britian” on Thursday: “From a German standpoint, the issue is clear. it would be a shame for Great Britian, a great shame,” the magazine remarked.
It added: “Certainly the British are endured rather than loved on the continent. But the British play an important role in Europe and the world. They have something to offer and want to play a part. They are a model, liberal multi-cultural society that is open to the world.”
Der Spiegel argued that nationalism and “small state” mentality belonged to the last century and added; “The emotionally-charged referendum campaign has brought ugly anti-English feelings to the fore.”
Bild asked who would be Scotland's head of state in the event of independence. It claimed Scotland’s separatists neither wanted the Queen, nor a republic. “There is only 81-year-old Prince Franz of Bavaria who lives in Munich. For supporters of the banned Stuart dynasty he is the rightful heir to the Scottish throne," Bild remarked.
11.40 Blog: Alex Salmond wants a funny sort of independence.
Read the independence white paper, and it becomes clear that Salmond doesn't really want to let go of the British state. Scots will still be able to use hundreds of British institutions, he claims.
11.30 And the winner is... Mel Gibson.
Sales of Braveheart have risen from 1074th in the Amazon DVD charts to 454th, and still rising.
The film, shot largely in Ireland for tax reasons, had its Scottish premiere at Stirling Castle in September 1995.
11.00 Alex Salmond has voted with two first time voters: Natasha McDonald, 18, and Lea Pirie, 28, at Ritchie Hall in his home village of Strichen, Aberdeenshire, this morning.
Mr Salmond gave both women a soft Yes toy as a mascot for their vote and the trio stopped for pictures on their way into the polling station.
Despite long days of campaigning, the First Minister said he managed to get a good rest on the eve of the vote.
"I got a fantastic night's sleep, obviously there's a great deal of anticipation, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it's a day that everybody will remember," he said.
"Natasha and Lea are voting for the first time and so will so many people in Scotland, not just 16 and 17-year-olds, but people in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
"We're in the hands of the people of Scotland and there's no safer place to be than in the hands of the Scottish people."
Mr Salmond also said during his visit to the polling station in Strichen that Andy Murray, had "hit another winner this morning", after the tennis start backed separation in a tweet overnight.
Pro-independence slogans are written on clothes hung on a washing line in Edinburgh
10.45 Michael Deacon is at the Craigmiller housing estate, one of the most deprived in Edinburgh.
He is one of the first of three marches today that will lead voters to the polling stations. They are being led by a hired piper, who is blowing flames out the end of his pipes. Children have saltires painted on their faces, and they carry placards reading "End Tory rule for Ever."
A man at the front of the march of around 100 announces through a microphone: "The working class people of scotland are starting the fightback against Tory austerity".
"People of Craigmillar! This is the Yes campaign inviting you to join us on Scotland's short walk to freedom! This is Scotland's day of destiny! This is the day the people of Scotland take control of our destiny! This is the day the working class people begin the fight back!"
On the 14-storey tower block, every single window bar two carries a Yes sticker.
"Critics may find it intimidating. But they are very upbeat and celebratory," says Deacon.
This makes life tricky for pollsters. Have they taken into account a surge in voting from people who may not have voted for years, and are now mobilising in significant numbers to Yes.
10.30 The future of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, is up in the air, local historians claim, because of a medieval treaty which reveals it may be owned by Scotland.
Doncaster was signed over to Scotland more than 900 years ago as part of the Treaty of Durham, after King David successfully stormed large areas of northern England.
It remained in Scottish hands for 21 years until Henry II appeared to reclaim the town under English rule in 1157 - but it was never formally given back.
Until now, the claim to the land has been overlooked by Scots. Ed Miliband is the MP for Doncaster North.
Dr Charles Kelham, a local historian, said: "David had invaded England in support of his niece, the Empress Matilda, the widow of a Roman Emperor whose claim to the throne of England seemed to have rather more justification than Stephen’s.
"Stephen bought David off at the meeting in Durham by offering him a selection of additional estates, one of which was the manor and soke of Doncaster.”
Read more here
10.20 Andy Murray has been subject to vile online abuse after declaring for the Yes campaign. One Twitter user says he wishes he had been "killed at Dunblane". Murray was a pupil at the school and present when a gunman killed 17 children and teachers in 1996.
10.10 The polls have been open three hours - and Cameron's rebellion widens.
James Gray, the MP for North Wiltshire and former shadow Scottish secretary, has condemned Cameron' s devo max proposals as "feeding an addiction" that will reignite calls for independence.
"I do NOT agree with the ‘Devo Max’ proposals which the three party leaders seem to be offering. Talk about feeding an addiction.
"The more you give them, the more they want, and we would be back with calls for independence within a decade or sooner.
"But if it is deemed that these foolish proposals have to be taken forward because of the strength of feeling demonstrated in the campaign and in the results of the referendum, then I will go along with it only if the imbalance between England and Scotland is at the same time corrected.
"The West Lothian question, the English Question lies unanswered on the table, and as an MP for an English constituency (albeit personally a Scot by background), I will demand that it must now be addressed.
"For too long, Scottish MPs have voted on English matters. That must be ended. Scotland would be massively over-represented at Westminster. Their MPs must be culled appropriately. And the Barnett Formula, under which every Scottish citizen gets £1500 per year more spent on him/her than their English counterpart must be swept away with no delay. We want greater powers for the long-suffering people of England. As G.K. Chesterton said “Smile at us, pass us; but do not quite forget; For we are the people of England, that never have spoken yet.”
"The Scots have had their say. At the time of writing I have no idea what the outcome will be. But of one thing I am sure. For too long the rights and interests of the 55 million people of England have been subordinated to the shouting of 4.5 million Scots. That must end. Now is the time for the people of England to speak - and to be heeded."
Read more on his website.
10.00 From Telegraph blogs:
Robert Colvile identifies the five winners and losers from the Scottish campaign.
and Robert Ford, the academic, explains the night ahead
09.45 'Vote Yes or else'
Jackie Baillie, the MSP for Dunbarton, has tweeted an image of the Jamestown Parish Church Lennox Hall which is today a polling station. The graffiti reads 'Vote Yes or Else'.
"Shocking behaviour from yes campaigners. Should not be trying to threaten and intimidate," says Baillie.
(Another message is partially obscured - it could be 'F--- London rule!' but it is not quite clear.)
09.30 What turnout would be a record turnout? Pollsters reckon around 80-85 per cent of Scots could turn out - far higher than recent British general elections. This graphic from the University of Reading is instructive.
09.10 BREAKING: The rebellion brewing in Tory ranks over further giveaways to Scotland has reached ministerial level.
Claire Perry, the newly promoted rail minister, has told the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald that Scotland must receive "no financial party bags".
Tory backbenchers are incensed that the PM has committed to protect the Barnett Formula - which sees Scots given an extra £1000 a year in public spending compared to English voters - if Scotland rejects No. They struggle to see how that can be reconciled with Scotland getting greater fiscal autonomy. One female Tory told the Telegraph Mr Cameron can expect a "bloodbath" tomorrow morning - comments seized by the Yes campaign.
“Cool, calm analysis, not promises of financial party bags to appease Mr Salmond, are what is needed from tomorrow and onwards,” Ms Perry writes.
“I am expecting Parliament to be recalled next week to understand the result and any proposed settlement.”
She tells the paper she fears a No vote will result in “a whole raft of goodies on offer for Scotland that will be paid for by us south of the border to try and appease the Yes voters."
“If there is a proposal to allow devolution of local taxation, as well as maintaining the current level of funding as a dollop from the UK Parliament, then that can hardly be equitable for those of us in the Devizes constituency and all other area areas in the non-Scottish union.”
There are some Government figures who hope the result will be a narrow win for No. A comfortable win for the union makes its far harder for the PM to justify the last-minute giveaways to restive backbenchers.
09.00 Judith Woods meets voters in Edinburgh this morning.
"I am 86 years of age, so I won't be alive for much longer, but I am here because I am desperately worried that Alex Salmond's dirty tricks campaign may have worked," said Henry Philip, who was erecting an A board emblazoned with No Thanks outside the polling station.
"There are nationalist thugs in the Yes campaign who have been unleashed and I see a real parallel with Germany in the 20s and 30s."
Catriona Fegan, 31, a sound engineer, was less sanguine.
"My hand was shaking so much inside the polling booth I could barely put a cross on the paper," she admitted. "This is a huge decision we are making."
She declined to say which way she had voted.
08.30 Alan Cumming, the actor who divides time between NY and Scotland, has written a pro-independence piece in NYT, saying that after 16 years of devolution Scotland doesn't need its "trainer wheels" any more.
"Distilled, the essence of the choice is this: The Yes campaign is about hope for a fairer, more caring and prosperous society; the No campaign says only: better the devil you know. I am an optimist."
08.22 People heading to polling stations to cast their vote in the independence referendum have been warned they could face intimidation by nationalist supporters (writes Peter Dominiczak).
Pro-independence campaigners have sent out posters urging nationalists to “be Bravehearts” and join marches to local polling booths.
It comes amid fears of voter fraud and intimidation overshadowing the referendum.
Police Scotland was last night investigating allegations that a counting officer had disclosed details of how postal votes had been cast in Edinburgh.
Yes campaigners have organised a series of “short walk to freedom" marches on polling day.
Opponents have warned that the events could be used to intimidate No voters casting their votes in polling stations across Scotland.
Kezia Dugdale, Labour MSP for Lothians, where the posters appeared, told The Telegraph the adverts were "offensive" and organisers should "rethink" the plans.
Many pubs plan to open all night. In Glasgow last night, police lines separated heated Yes and No supporters. One side sang Flower of Scotland; the other the national anthem.
What evidence is there that the debate corresponds to the the existing and pervasive divides between Celtic and Rangers fans in Glasgow? This, of course, reflects historic divides between Irish immigrant workers and native protestant Scots from the 19th century; as well as a series of more complex disputes - Northern Ireland, political ideology, national identity.
It's a mixed picture. Many of those protesting for No at George Square last night wore Rangers shirts; Better Together posters have been waved at Ibrox alongside the Union Jack; while the Green Bridge, the Celtic Ultras and keepers of the Irish republican flame, have swung firmly behind Yes.
The truth is inevitably more mixed, however: one Panelbase survey found fans in both Old Firm teams split, with an edge towards Yes; while John Reid, the former Labour minister and Better Together campaigner, is a former Celtic chairman. Jim Murphy is a Celtic season ticket holder. And, it's worth adding, many in the city find the bitterness of the rivalry, and its sectarian streaks, a source for quiet embarrassment.
08.10 This morning's front pages
Note how two of the most popular papers - The Scottish Sun and the Daily Record - have refused to come out for one side or the other. It is potentially significant; the Yes campaign has worked hard to mobilise thousands of disaffected working-class people who have not voted in years.
Rupert Murdoch, the Sun proprietor, has taken a keen interest in the vote, and spent a few days over the weekend visiting bars and talking to voters. "Scottish poll reflects world-wide disillusion with political leaders and old establishments leaving openings for libertarians and far left," he mused on Twitter.
08.00 A note on reporting restrictions. Under electoral law, it is an offence to report anything that suggests that the vote is going one way or the other while the polls are open. (That does not preclude reporting exit polls taken before polls open.) This is to prevent people discouraging or encouraging one side to turn out unfairly. Broadcasters and websites will not, therefore, say they have seen lots of support outside polling stations for one side or the other.
The law applies to social media too. How many campaigners heed it is an open question.
07.45 Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister, has voted in Glasgow with her husband.
07.30 Overnight, Andy Murray appeared to declare for Yes after years of attempting to dodge questions over his preference.
Having refused to be drawn on the subject in the past, Murray seemed to tweet his support for the Yes campaign to his 2.7 million followers.
The 27-year-old Wimbledon champion - one of Scotland’s highest profile nationals - nailed his colours to the mast just hours before polls opened, writing: “Huge day for Scotland today! no campaign negativity last few days totally swayed my view on it. excited to see the outcome. lets do this!”
Murray, who grew up in Dunblane, Stirling, has previously expressed his admiration for staunch No supporter Gordon Brown, however on Thursday suggested he had been put off by the No camp’s recent campaign tactics.
Murray has been quizzed on the issue previously but dodged the question, although in an interview in June he criticised Alex Salmond, the Scottish First Minister, for waving the country's flag at the tournament last year.
When pressed on the issue of independence in an interview after his Wimbledon victory, he said: “You don't want to come to a snap decision and then see the country go t*** up.
“I am proud to be Scottish, but I am also proud to be British. I don't think there is any contradiction in that.”
Meanwhile, last night Barack Obama reiterated his backing for no.
"The UK is an extraordinary partner for America and a force for good in an unstable world. I hope it remains strong, robust and united," the President wrote on the White House's official Twitter account.
07.20 The timings for tonight are expected to be as follows:
Some 32 areas will declare results. The winner will be the total of the overall vote.
The first results are expected from 1.30am. The first may be Western Isles or North Lanarkshire, one of the most populous areas.
Stirling, one of the key battlegrounds, should declare around 2am. We could see early claims of expected victory from whichever side wins here.
The first seven councils – around 15 per cent of the registered electorates votes, are expected to be declared around 2am.
By 3am eleven council areas, representing nearly a third of the registered electorate, are expected to declare their results.
4am South Lanarkshire is expected to declare. It has high numbers of Tory voters.
4am Dundee expected. It is a Yes stronghold, and Salmond will be hoping to win the city by a landslide.
5am: We expect the results from Glasgow and Edinburgh, followed by Aberdeen around 6am. Between them the three cities have a quarter of the electorate.
A final result is expected between 6.30 - 7.30 - in time for breakfast.
A recount can be demanded in any of the 32 centres. However, once the final total is declared no recount can be requested.
07.10 Alex Salmond led an eve-of-poll rally in Perth last night - where the BBC's Nick Robinson was repeatedly booed. Simon Johnson reports.
Alex Salmond praised nationalist activists as the “greatest campaigners” in Scottish history at an eve-of-referendum rally last night after they repeatedly booed and jeered the BBC’s political editor.
The First Minister said he was speaking on the “eve of the most exciting day in Scottish history” and repeatedly attacked Westminster, claiming the UK parties only agreed to the referendum because “they thought they had it in the bag”.
Nicola Sturgeon, his deputy, told the 1,200 separatists that the latest Ipsos Mori opinion poll showed support for Yes on 49 per cent and they had 900 minutes on Thursday to increase that to 50 per cent.
A separate YouGov opinion published by the Sun and Times showed support for independence at 48 per cent, with 52 per cent opposition, while a Survation survey for the Daily Record put the contest at 47 per cent and 53 per cent respectively.
But the mood of the rally at Perth Concert Hall turned ugly before the keynote speeches after Nick Robinson, the BBC’s political editor, briefly appeared on a balcony above the nationalist horde.
07.00 Good morning. Polls have opened. Today Scotland votes. The question: 'Should Scotland be an independent country?' Polling ends at 10pm. We should have an answer within 24 hours.
Campaign teams have been up through the night delivering leaflets and drawing up final lists of canvassed voters.
Today's timings:
8am Alistair Carmichael casts vote, Orkney
9am Alex Salmond casts vote, Aberdeenshire
11am Willie Rennie, Scottish Lib Dem leader, casts vote, Kelty Bridge
11am Patrick Harvie, Scottish Greens co-convener, casts vote, Glasgow
Noon Danny Alexander casts vote, Muirton. Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are expected to vote around midday.
8pm Candle-lit vigil ahead of referendum result. Vigil organised by Hands Across the Border campaign.
(Gretna Green)
10pm Polls close. Count begins. No exit polls are expected.
An overwhelming majority of Tory MPs oppose David Cameron's promise to preserve the Barnett Fomula on top of extra powers for Scots in the event of a no vote, a new poll shows.
The PM faces a bruising showdown with his own backbenchers after promising to retain the formula, which was established in the 1970s and awards Scotland £1,623 a head more in Scotland than in England. The pledge to keep the formula appeared in a joint statement by Cameron, Clegg and Miliband in the Daily Record.
Polling of MP by Dods, the political information service, found 63 per cent think the formula should be changed - including 83 per cent of Tories, 41 per cent of Labour and 78 per cent of Lib Dems.
MPs are also opposed to sharing the pound with an independent state - 82 per cent overall, with 95 per cent of Tories and 72 per cent of Labour opposed. Two-thirds of MPs said the referendum has damaged relations with Scotland.
Claire Perry became the first minister to break ranks with Mr Cameron over the policy this morning, saying there can be "no financial party bags to appease Mr Salmond" (see 0910). James Gray, another Tory, said Mr Cameron cannot go on "feeding an addiction". (see 1010). Better Together folk are dismayed that Tories are choosing to have this row now, rather than after polls closed. Yes are delighted, of course.
14.50 Reports on social media that some polling stations have closed after 100 per cent turn out are untrue - they remain open so that people can hand in postal ballots.
But turn out is likely to be extraordinarily high - perhaps 85 per cent.
14.45 It's the Great British Break Up! Mary Berry, the television cookery star, has come out against independence.
"We should all stay as a family," she said at a charity screening of Downton Abbey last night. "It's been like that forever and I think that's how it should stay."
But Julian Fellowes, the show's creator, is on the fence. “I’d feel sorry to see the union lost, but I feel quite strongly this is a matter for Scotland.
“We keep harrying them from down here, telling them this is what they can’t have if they vote this way and so on. I think we should leave them alone to come to their own decision."
14.30 Tom Rowley, the Telegraph's Special Correspondent, sends this from Alloa, Clackmannanshire - the capital of Yes country.
THE banner outside Alloa Baptist Church felt oddly appropriate this morning: “Try praying”. After years of campaigning in the Scottish independence referendum, that is all both sides can do now.
“They’re having to pray,” joshed the Yes campaigner to his No counterpart, as both stood beneath the banner to ask voters leaving the church hall where they had marked their X.
Yes voters here, at the heart of Clackmannanshire, an hour north of Edinburgh, are not reticent about their politics. Saltires fly from homes, offices and cars. One man sported three Yes badges: not just wearing his heart on his sleeve, but on his lapel and his “man bag” too.
Before the polls opened, bookmakers said this was one of the Scottish counties most likely to vote Yes. There are as many SNP seats on the council as Labour, an SNP member of the Scottish Parliament, and the area elected one of the first nationalist MPs to the Westminster Parliament in 1974.
In Alloa’s Yes “hub”, the campaign’s headquarters, they have run out of merchandise: Yes posters, badges, wristbands – and even Saltires – have all sold out. Only two balloons remained. “We can’t buy them in,” said one volunteer.
Last night, at a supposedly impromptu “flashmob” in the city centre, supporters of independence sang Flower of Scotland before chanting: “Scotland! Scotland, Scotland!” One man’s cry of “you can shove the United Kingdom up your ----” was received less enthusiastically.
But, emerging from the Baptist church, Esther Matheson said No voters like her were simply less vocal about their choice.
“I haven’t [put up a poster] and I never would,” said the 61-year-old housewife. “I would never try to influence anybody and I don’t like to advertise what I’m doing. I would never stick things on my car or wear badges.”
She is happy with the constitutional status quo. “We can’t turn it back if we make a bad decision,” she said.
A few minutes later, Anne Wilson, a 60-year-old grandmother, voted Yes. “My kids were going to kill me if I didn’t,” she said. What had they said to her? “I don’t think I could say that – it involved an F word. I’ve got a grandson and my son said: ‘don’t ---- up my son’s future’. My daughter was more or less the same. We’re old fogeys, ready to drop off the planet anyway.
“I know what I’ve had [so far] – it can only get better.”
Moira Love, a 49-year-old mobile hairdresser, has never voted in an election before. But she is voting Yes because “Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world – and yet we’ve got food banks”.
Regardless of tomorrow’s result, she said she will continue to vote in elections, and campaign for independence.
It’s Over and Done With, sang The Proclaimers, practically the nationalists’ in-house band. Today, the electioneering is certainly over. But done with? That’s the only thing you can safely bet against.
14.00 The Parish Hall at Jamestown, which was graffied overnight with slogans including 'Vote Yes or else', and "No voters will be shot", has been repainted.
13.40 Here's Alex Salmond, painted overnight on Fashion Street, east London.
13.30 Here's Eck
Alex Salmond poses for photographs with school children after casting his ballot at Ritchie Hall in Strichen.
<noframe>Twitter: Alex Salmond - Wonderful to meet this lovely lady at the polls who said, "I've been waiting all my life for this!" <a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=hash&q=%23LetsDoThis" target="_blank">#LetsDoThis</a> <a href="http://t.co/6dOdG6179u" target="_blank">http://t.co/6dOdG6179u</a></noframe>
13.00 Today's YouGov poll for the Times raises interesting questions about which side ran a better campaign. I've reproduced as a table below.
Over the last few weeks, have you been contacted in any of the following ways? (results are %)
| Campaign tactic | Yes campaign | No campaign |
|---|---|---|
| Leaflets or letters through door | 73 | 68 |
| Posters or billboards in your area | 38 | 27 |
| Stalls or leaflets in your area | 36 | 21 |
| Knocked on your door | 17 | 14 |
| Sent email or contacted on social media | 16 | 11 |
| Telephoned you | 4 | 6 |
| None of these | 15 | 20 |
| Don't know | 3 | 3 |
Some 47 per cent of YES voters have worn a sticker or badge advertising that, against just 20 per cent of NO voters. Asked why they had not worn a badge, they gave the following reasons.
| Reason for not wearing badge | Yes voters | No voters |
|---|---|---|
| My feelings are not strong enough | 5 | 5 |
| I was worried about a negative reaction from others | 6 | 29 |
| Don't like expressing political opinions publicly | 39 | 42 |
| Wasn't asked to | 21 | 9 |
| Not worthwhile | 14 | 12 |
12.50 Police Scotland has confirmed that a 44-year-old man has been detained after an alleged assault at a polling station in Clydebank. The man was arrested in the town’s Faifley Road at 8.30am and is expected to appear in Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday.
12.40 In Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, a demostration takes place in support of Scottish independence.
"I support the Scots. Their referendum is going peacefully, without war. I'm very jealous, and I wish them all the best," tells Natalia Isaeva tells the patriotic Russian channel LifeNews.
Why's it significant? Moscow watches the referendum closely. In part, because Scottish independence puts a big question mark over the future of Britain's nuclear arsenal, and the Nato patrols that intercept stray Russian flights.
But more immediately because Moscow has sought to legitimise the annexation of Crimea and the Russia-backed separatist movement in Donetsk and other Ukrainian cities with a series of hastily-assembled referendums, and they regard the Scottish vote as reinforcing that legitimacy. So much, in fact, that Saltires have been seen at demos in Sevastopol, and top separatists refer on twitter to the 'Scottish People's Republic'.
12.30 Around 1,000 people, including leaders from the Better Together and Yes campaigns, are expected to attend the Church of Scotland’s post-referendum service of reconciliation at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on Sunday.
The Rt Rev John Chalmers, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, will preach on the need to promote “healing where there has been hurt and unity where there has been division”. The service can be watched online on the kirk’s website
.
12.25 A new poll puts NO six points ahead. The Ipsos Mori poll for the Evening Standard puts No on 53 and Yes on 47.
A YouGov poll for the Times last night put No four ahead - 52-48. Panelbase got the same result. A separate Ipsos Mori poll for STV released last night gave a closer race - 51-49.
The poll found that six in 10 of those voting for Scotland to stay in the union were motivated more by "fear" about the risks of independence than "hope" for the future. By contrast eight in 10 Yes voters said they were motivated more by hope than fear.
A women wears 'Yes' stickers on her face on a "short walk to freedom" march in Edinburgh
The poll highlighted a significant gender divide, with men 53 per cent of men favouring independence while 58 per cent of women said they intended to vote for Scotland to stay in the union.
People aged between 35 and 34 were the most likely to vote yes, dividing 73 to 27, while those over-55 were split two to one in favour of Scotland staying in the Union.
This is Gordon Brown voting in North Queensferry this morning.
12.10 Any Scot who's been to New York will tell you that New Yorkers love Scots, and will tell you from which village their great-great uncle emigrated.
The New York Post has gone 'mad for plaid' (that's tartan, to you or I), and says Americans are mad for all things Caledonian.
The Statue of Liberty comes out for Yes in Niddrie, Edinburgh
12.00 The government of France has carefully avoided expressing an opinion about Scottish independence, but a former far-left presidential candidate has summed up the views of many French people by saying he would vote “yes”, says David Chazan in Paris.
“I would obviously vote for Scottish independence because I’m too keen on history not to know that Scotland is the traditional ally of the French ever since the Ancien Régime,” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a maverick politician who ran for president in 2012 as the candidate of the Front de Gauche.
What does the world think of Scottish independence?
11.45 Chancellor Angela Merkel and most of Germany’s political establishment have chosen not to comment about the prospect of an independent Scotland but there is little doubt that they view the possibility with alarm, writes Tony Paterson in Berlin
Their main concern is the potentially negative consequences of separation for the European Union as a whole. These were outlined in Germany’s mass media as Scottish voters went the he polls on Thursday.
"Separation would have consequences for the whole of Europe,” wrote Germany’s mass circulation Bild newspaper,“ The most Catalonians want to be "free" from Spain. And the Corsicans? The Basques? What about South Tirol?” the paper asked.
“David Cameron would be swept out of office just like Lord North after the loss of American colonies in the 18th century. Boris Johnson is waiting in the wings,“ Bild added.
Alex Salmond poses for photographs with Yes campaigners in Turriff
Germany's influential Der Spiegel maagazine published a commentary headlined “A shame for Great Britian” on Thursday: “From a German standpoint, the issue is clear. it would be a shame for Great Britian, a great shame,” the magazine remarked.
It added: “Certainly the British are endured rather than loved on the continent. But the British play an important role in Europe and the world. They have something to offer and want to play a part. They are a model, liberal multi-cultural society that is open to the world.”
Der Spiegel argued that nationalism and “small state” mentality belonged to the last century and added; “The emotionally-charged referendum campaign has brought ugly anti-English feelings to the fore.”
Bild asked who would be Scotland's head of state in the event of independence. It claimed Scotland’s separatists neither wanted the Queen, nor a republic. “There is only 81-year-old Prince Franz of Bavaria who lives in Munich. For supporters of the banned Stuart dynasty he is the rightful heir to the Scottish throne," Bild remarked.
11.40 Blog: Alex Salmond wants a funny sort of independence.
Read the independence white paper, and it becomes clear that Salmond doesn't really want to let go of the British state. Scots will still be able to use hundreds of British institutions, he claims.
11.30 And the winner is... Mel Gibson.
Sales of Braveheart have risen from 1074th in the Amazon DVD charts to 454th, and still rising.
The film, shot largely in Ireland for tax reasons, had its Scottish premiere at Stirling Castle in September 1995.
11.00 Alex Salmond has voted with two first time voters: Natasha McDonald, 18, and Lea Pirie, 28, at Ritchie Hall in his home village of Strichen, Aberdeenshire, this morning.
Mr Salmond gave both women a soft Yes toy as a mascot for their vote and the trio stopped for pictures on their way into the polling station.
Despite long days of campaigning, the First Minister said he managed to get a good rest on the eve of the vote.
"I got a fantastic night's sleep, obviously there's a great deal of anticipation, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it's a day that everybody will remember," he said.
"Natasha and Lea are voting for the first time and so will so many people in Scotland, not just 16 and 17-year-olds, but people in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
"We're in the hands of the people of Scotland and there's no safer place to be than in the hands of the Scottish people."
Mr Salmond also said during his visit to the polling station in Strichen that Andy Murray, had "hit another winner this morning", after the tennis start backed separation in a tweet overnight.
Pro-independence slogans are written on clothes hung on a washing line in Edinburgh
10.45 Michael Deacon is at the Craigmiller housing estate, one of the most deprived in Edinburgh.
He is one of the first of three marches today that will lead voters to the polling stations. They are being led by a hired piper, who is blowing flames out the end of his pipes. Children have saltires painted on their faces, and they carry placards reading "End Tory rule for Ever."
A man at the front of the march of around 100 announces through a microphone: "The working class people of scotland are starting the fightback against Tory austerity".
"People of Craigmillar! This is the Yes campaign inviting you to join us on Scotland's short walk to freedom! This is Scotland's day of destiny! This is the day the people of Scotland take control of our destiny! This is the day the working class people begin the fight back!"
On the 14-storey tower block, every single window bar two carries a Yes sticker.
"Critics may find it intimidating. But they are very upbeat and celebratory," says Deacon.
This makes life tricky for pollsters. Have they taken into account a surge in voting from people who may not have voted for years, and are now mobilising in significant numbers to Yes.
10.30 The future of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, is up in the air, local historians claim, because of a medieval treaty which reveals it may be owned by Scotland.
Doncaster was signed over to Scotland more than 900 years ago as part of the Treaty of Durham, after King David successfully stormed large areas of northern England.
It remained in Scottish hands for 21 years until Henry II appeared to reclaim the town under English rule in 1157 - but it was never formally given back.
Until now, the claim to the land has been overlooked by Scots. Ed Miliband is the MP for Doncaster North.
Dr Charles Kelham, a local historian, said: "David had invaded England in support of his niece, the Empress Matilda, the widow of a Roman Emperor whose claim to the throne of England seemed to have rather more justification than Stephen’s.
"Stephen bought David off at the meeting in Durham by offering him a selection of additional estates, one of which was the manor and soke of Doncaster.”
Read more here
10.20 Andy Murray has been subject to vile online abuse after declaring for the Yes campaign. One Twitter user says he wishes he had been "killed at Dunblane". Murray was a pupil at the school and present when a gunman killed 17 children and teachers in 1996.
10.10 The polls have been open three hours - and Cameron's rebellion widens.
James Gray, the MP for North Wiltshire and former shadow Scottish secretary, has condemned Cameron' s devo max proposals as "feeding an addiction" that will reignite calls for independence.
"I do NOT agree with the ‘Devo Max’ proposals which the three party leaders seem to be offering. Talk about feeding an addiction.
"The more you give them, the more they want, and we would be back with calls for independence within a decade or sooner.
"But if it is deemed that these foolish proposals have to be taken forward because of the strength of feeling demonstrated in the campaign and in the results of the referendum, then I will go along with it only if the imbalance between England and Scotland is at the same time corrected.
"The West Lothian question, the English Question lies unanswered on the table, and as an MP for an English constituency (albeit personally a Scot by background), I will demand that it must now be addressed.
"For too long, Scottish MPs have voted on English matters. That must be ended. Scotland would be massively over-represented at Westminster. Their MPs must be culled appropriately. And the Barnett Formula, under which every Scottish citizen gets £1500 per year more spent on him/her than their English counterpart must be swept away with no delay. We want greater powers for the long-suffering people of England. As G.K. Chesterton said “Smile at us, pass us; but do not quite forget; For we are the people of England, that never have spoken yet.”
"The Scots have had their say. At the time of writing I have no idea what the outcome will be. But of one thing I am sure. For too long the rights and interests of the 55 million people of England have been subordinated to the shouting of 4.5 million Scots. That must end. Now is the time for the people of England to speak - and to be heeded."
Read more on his website.
10.00 From Telegraph blogs:
Robert Colvile identifies the five winners and losers from the Scottish campaign.
and Robert Ford, the academic, explains the night ahead
09.45 'Vote Yes or else'
Jackie Baillie, the MSP for Dunbarton, has tweeted an image of the Jamestown Parish Church Lennox Hall which is today a polling station. The graffiti reads 'Vote Yes or Else'.
"Shocking behaviour from yes campaigners. Should not be trying to threaten and intimidate," says Baillie.
(Another message is partially obscured - it could be 'F--- London rule!' but it is not quite clear.)
09.30 What turnout would be a record turnout? Pollsters reckon around 80-85 per cent of Scots could turn out - far higher than recent British general elections. This graphic from the University of Reading is instructive.
09.10 BREAKING: The rebellion brewing in Tory ranks over further giveaways to Scotland has reached ministerial level.
Claire Perry, the newly promoted rail minister, has told the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald that Scotland must receive "no financial party bags".
Tory backbenchers are incensed that the PM has committed to protect the Barnett Formula - which sees Scots given an extra £1000 a year in public spending compared to English voters - if Scotland rejects No. They struggle to see how that can be reconciled with Scotland getting greater fiscal autonomy. One female Tory told the Telegraph Mr Cameron can expect a "bloodbath" tomorrow morning - comments seized by the Yes campaign.
“Cool, calm analysis, not promises of financial party bags to appease Mr Salmond, are what is needed from tomorrow and onwards,” Ms Perry writes.
“I am expecting Parliament to be recalled next week to understand the result and any proposed settlement.”
She tells the paper she fears a No vote will result in “a whole raft of goodies on offer for Scotland that will be paid for by us south of the border to try and appease the Yes voters."
“If there is a proposal to allow devolution of local taxation, as well as maintaining the current level of funding as a dollop from the UK Parliament, then that can hardly be equitable for those of us in the Devizes constituency and all other area areas in the non-Scottish union.”
There are some Government figures who hope the result will be a narrow win for No. A comfortable win for the union makes its far harder for the PM to justify the last-minute giveaways to restive backbenchers.
09.00 Judith Woods meets voters in Edinburgh this morning.
"I am 86 years of age, so I won't be alive for much longer, but I am here because I am desperately worried that Alex Salmond's dirty tricks campaign may have worked," said Henry Philip, who was erecting an A board emblazoned with No Thanks outside the polling station.
"There are nationalist thugs in the Yes campaign who have been unleashed and I see a real parallel with Germany in the 20s and 30s."
Catriona Fegan, 31, a sound engineer, was less sanguine.
"My hand was shaking so much inside the polling booth I could barely put a cross on the paper," she admitted. "This is a huge decision we are making."
She declined to say which way she had voted.
08.30 Alan Cumming, the actor who divides time between NY and Scotland, has written a pro-independence piece in NYT, saying that after 16 years of devolution Scotland doesn't need its "trainer wheels" any more.
"Distilled, the essence of the choice is this: The Yes campaign is about hope for a fairer, more caring and prosperous society; the No campaign says only: better the devil you know. I am an optimist."
08.22 People heading to polling stations to cast their vote in the independence referendum have been warned they could face intimidation by nationalist supporters (writes Peter Dominiczak).
Pro-independence campaigners have sent out posters urging nationalists to “be Bravehearts” and join marches to local polling booths.
It comes amid fears of voter fraud and intimidation overshadowing the referendum.
Police Scotland was last night investigating allegations that a counting officer had disclosed details of how postal votes had been cast in Edinburgh.
Yes campaigners have organised a series of “short walk to freedom" marches on polling day.
Opponents have warned that the events could be used to intimidate No voters casting their votes in polling stations across Scotland.
Kezia Dugdale, Labour MSP for Lothians, where the posters appeared, told The Telegraph the adverts were "offensive" and organisers should "rethink" the plans.
Many pubs plan to open all night. In Glasgow last night, police lines separated heated Yes and No supporters. One side sang Flower of Scotland; the other the national anthem.
What evidence is there that the debate corresponds to the the existing and pervasive divides between Celtic and Rangers fans in Glasgow? This, of course, reflects historic divides between Irish immigrant workers and native protestant Scots from the 19th century; as well as a series of more complex disputes - Northern Ireland, political ideology, national identity.
It's a mixed picture. Many of those protesting for No at George Square last night wore Rangers shirts; Better Together posters have been waved at Ibrox alongside the Union Jack; while the Green Bridge, the Celtic Ultras and keepers of the Irish republican flame, have swung firmly behind Yes.
The truth is inevitably more mixed, however: one Panelbase survey found fans in both Old Firm teams split, with an edge towards Yes; while John Reid, the former Labour minister and Better Together campaigner, is a former Celtic chairman. Jim Murphy is a Celtic season ticket holder. And, it's worth adding, many in the city find the bitterness of the rivalry, and its sectarian streaks, a source for quiet embarrassment.
08.10 This morning's front pages
Note how two of the most popular papers - The Scottish Sun and the Daily Record - have refused to come out for one side or the other. It is potentially significant; the Yes campaign has worked hard to mobilise thousands of disaffected working-class people who have not voted in years.
Rupert Murdoch, the Sun proprietor, has taken a keen interest in the vote, and spent a few days over the weekend visiting bars and talking to voters. "Scottish poll reflects world-wide disillusion with political leaders and old establishments leaving openings for libertarians and far left," he mused on Twitter.
08.00 A note on reporting restrictions. Under electoral law, it is an offence to report anything that suggests that the vote is going one way or the other while the polls are open. (That does not preclude reporting exit polls taken before polls open.) This is to prevent people discouraging or encouraging one side to turn out unfairly. Broadcasters and websites will not, therefore, say they have seen lots of support outside polling stations for one side or the other.
The law applies to social media too. How many campaigners heed it is an open question.
07.45 Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister, has voted in Glasgow with her husband.
07.30 Overnight, Andy Murray appeared to declare for Yes after years of attempting to dodge questions over his preference.
Having refused to be drawn on the subject in the past, Murray seemed to tweet his support for the Yes campaign to his 2.7 million followers.
The 27-year-old Wimbledon champion - one of Scotland’s highest profile nationals - nailed his colours to the mast just hours before polls opened, writing: “Huge day for Scotland today! no campaign negativity last few days totally swayed my view on it. excited to see the outcome. lets do this!”
Murray, who grew up in Dunblane, Stirling, has previously expressed his admiration for staunch No supporter Gordon Brown, however on Thursday suggested he had been put off by the No camp’s recent campaign tactics.
Murray has been quizzed on the issue previously but dodged the question, although in an interview in June he criticised Alex Salmond, the Scottish First Minister, for waving the country's flag at the tournament last year.
When pressed on the issue of independence in an interview after his Wimbledon victory, he said: “You don't want to come to a snap decision and then see the country go t*** up.
“I am proud to be Scottish, but I am also proud to be British. I don't think there is any contradiction in that.”
Meanwhile, last night Barack Obama reiterated his backing for no.
"The UK is an extraordinary partner for America and a force for good in an unstable world. I hope it remains strong, robust and united," the President wrote on the White House's official Twitter account.
07.20 The timings for tonight are expected to be as follows:
Some 32 areas will declare results. The winner will be the total of the overall vote.
The first results are expected from 1.30am. The first may be Western Isles or North Lanarkshire, one of the most populous areas.
Stirling, one of the key battlegrounds, should declare around 2am. We could see early claims of expected victory from whichever side wins here.
The first seven councils – around 15 per cent of the registered electorates votes, are expected to be declared around 2am.
By 3am eleven council areas, representing nearly a third of the registered electorate, are expected to declare their results.
4am South Lanarkshire is expected to declare. It has high numbers of Tory voters.
4am Dundee expected. It is a Yes stronghold, and Salmond will be hoping to win the city by a landslide.
5am: We expect the results from Glasgow and Edinburgh, followed by Aberdeen around 6am. Between them the three cities have a quarter of the electorate.
A final result is expected between 6.30 - 7.30 - in time for breakfast.
A recount can be demanded in any of the 32 centres. However, once the final total is declared no recount can be requested.
07.10 Alex Salmond led an eve-of-poll rally in Perth last night - where the BBC's Nick Robinson was repeatedly booed. Simon Johnson reports.
Alex Salmond praised nationalist activists as the “greatest campaigners” in Scottish history at an eve-of-referendum rally last night after they repeatedly booed and jeered the BBC’s political editor.
The First Minister said he was speaking on the “eve of the most exciting day in Scottish history” and repeatedly attacked Westminster, claiming the UK parties only agreed to the referendum because “they thought they had it in the bag”.
Nicola Sturgeon, his deputy, told the 1,200 separatists that the latest Ipsos Mori opinion poll showed support for Yes on 49 per cent and they had 900 minutes on Thursday to increase that to 50 per cent.
A separate YouGov opinion published by the Sun and Times showed support for independence at 48 per cent, with 52 per cent opposition, while a Survation survey for the Daily Record put the contest at 47 per cent and 53 per cent respectively.
But the mood of the rally at Perth Concert Hall turned ugly before the keynote speeches after Nick Robinson, the BBC’s political editor, briefly appeared on a balcony above the nationalist horde.
07.00 Good morning. Polls have opened. Today Scotland votes. The question: 'Should Scotland be an independent country?' Polling ends at 10pm. We should have an answer within 24 hours.
Campaign teams have been up through the night delivering leaflets and drawing up final lists of canvassed voters.
Today's timings:
8am Alistair Carmichael casts vote, Orkney
9am Alex Salmond casts vote, Aberdeenshire
11am Willie Rennie, Scottish Lib Dem leader, casts vote, Kelty Bridge
11am Patrick Harvie, Scottish Greens co-convener, casts vote, Glasgow
Noon Danny Alexander casts vote, Muirton. Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are expected to vote around midday.
8pm Candle-lit vigil ahead of referendum result. Vigil organised by Hands Across the Border campaign.
(Gretna Green)
10pm Polls close. Count begins. No exit polls are expected.
