01.29: Clackmannanshire declares for NO
89% turnout of 35,110 - 54% no, 46% yes
No: 19,036
Yes: 16,350
A small council with just 0.9% of the Scottish population it was a top Yes target. The result will be a blow to Alex Salmond and buoy Better together as it exactly reflects the YouGov overall prediction from earlier.
Credit Suisse gave it a 10/10 liklihood of voting yes, the highest it predicted across the whole of Scotland.
01.27: A fire alarm at Dundee means the counting hall has been evacuated
01.26: Orkney also say they are gearing up to announce
Battling with Clackmannanshire to be first to declare
01.23: Turn-out in Dundee, dubbed "Yes City", is lower than No areas
At 78.8% it is still high but this will be a disappointment for the yes campaign
West Lothian has a turnout of 86%
01.18: Clackmannanshire is expected to declare 'soon'
While sources suggest that yes could lose in Salmond's home turf of Aberdeenshire
01.14: Meanwhile the spirits of the Yes supporters are not dampened in Glasgow
01.10: Down at the central count at Ingliston, near Edinburgh airport, there is something of a festival atmosphere
Ben Riley-Smith, Scottish Political Correspodent, reports from Ingliston:
In the vast counting hanger have gathered the great and good of Holyrood's underbelly - SpAds, hacks, parliamentary assistants and press officers of every political persuasion.
There is one thing everyone agrees, however - tonight is the political equivalent of having all your Christmases come at once.
With the spin machine already in full gear, it is worth bearing in mind the basic electoral dynamics at play tonight.
For No, the hope has always been - especially in the last week - that when undecideds got into the poll booths they would fall their way. Staring those two small boxes and weighing up those six crucial words - should Scotland be an independent country? - they hoped the unanswered questions would come to the fore of voters' minds. If they did, the late swing to No would help win the day.
For Yes, their chips have been piled high on new voters. The "missing million" as they termed them - those who remained unregistered or simply had stopped voting out of disillusionment - held the key to victory. If they could turn out in their masses - and a 97% vote registration suggested they could - then it could hand Yes victory. Why would you finally break habit and decide to vote only to tick No, they wondered. Surely new voters would proportionally go their way.
It's tough to distinguish between spin and realism at these events. But having picked the brains of a number of pro-UK bods, we can say this for certainty - the No camp's tails are up. They are confident. And in the last 24 hours more than one senior figure has suggested they're hoping for a double-digit win.
00.56: High numbers middle class voters turning out in big numbers are encouraging No supporters
Alan Cochrane, Scottish Editor, has this report:
A huge turnout of voters from middle class areas in Scotland encouraged Better Together headquarters to believe that a decent majority for a No vote was on the cards.
They reported that as many as 90% of those eligible to vote did so in the more affluent areas around Glasgow, whereas turnout in more traditional Labour-voting areas was some ten per cent less. The highest turnout ever recorded in Scotland was 88.6% in Dundee East at the 1950 general election and Professor Charlie Jeffrey of Edinburgh University predicted that record would be broken this time.
And there was further optimism when a YouGov survey in the Guardian showing an eight per cent lead – 54%-46% - was published at 10.30pm. What was seen as significant was the fact that this was a ‘recall’ survey where 1800 people who had taken part in a previous YouGov survey this week were contacted again to find out how they’d actually voted.
Around the same time Liam Fox, the former Defence Secretary, predicted a 55%-45% vote split in favour of Scotland remaining part of the United Kingdom.
However, if the Yes vote is defeated there is every likelihood of further referendums on independence according to Dennis Canavan, the former Labour MP and now a co-chairman of the Yes campaign.
Speaking on STV, he said that future generations were perfectly entitled to seek constitutional change. This appeared to contradict Alex Salmond’s view that a defeat in this referendum would mean no further votes on the issue for a generation.
After early returns Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, predicted that 70% of voters in the Scottish Borders area would support staying in the United Kingdom.
00.40: As the country holds it's breath over Scotland's future the Lib Dems have quietly announced that Mike Hancock has quit the party
At 11.41pm as the Scottish referendum count in full swing it was announced that the MP who made a public apology for an "inappropriate and unprofessional" relationship with a vulnerable female constituent had quit the party.
Tom Chivers has this
00.35: Sources say no vote is holding very well in expected strongholds
With three to one for the Union being reported in some parts
00.25: Alex Salmond used his last interview with The Times to stress his commitment to the monarchy
Alex Salmond after casting his vote today
He also said he would seek to prove “very early” that an independent Scotland would maintain “comradely” relations with its neighbour.
00.17: Some extraordinary turnout figures are being recorded
Clackmannanshire is recording a turnout of 88.6%, astonishing considering the UK election record is 83.9%
83.7% in Orkney, which is still seriously high.
Earlier the chief counting officer was predicting over 80% turnout overall.
In terms of postal ballots, Falkirk returned 96% of those sent out, West Lothian 93.9%.
00.07: Alex Salmond avoids an appearance at Aberdeenshire count
Auslan Cramb in Aberdeen has this
Alex Salmond was expected to visit the Aberdeenshire count in the early hours of the morning, to hear the declaration for the area that includes his own constituency.
However, a spokesman has confirmed that he now plans to stay at home in Strichen overnight before travelling to Edinburgh later on Friday.
The move has prompted speculation at the count, in the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, that things may not be going as well as he had hoped.
Midnight, just two hours to go until we can expect the first declarations
23.57: Lord Steel has said there are "stirrings" in Wales and Cornwall following the Scottish campaign for independence and the offer of more powers
Former Liberal leader Lord David Steel told Sky News: "Nearly half of Scotland is going to be disappointed with the result whichever way it goes.
"Therefore, there is an obligation on the politicians to take that into account and to be very mindful and sensitive to half the population who have not voted for the result.
"I think it is very important they don't just talk about greater powers for the Scottish Parliament, but they have got to talk to look and see how they reorganise the United Kingdom.
"We have to take into account what has happened here in Scotland. There are stirrings in Wales, there are stirrings in Cornwall, the people are very concerned about getting government closer to themselves. I think that is a good thing and I think we have to take that really seriously into account.
"Provided the party leaders do what they said they would do, and that's a tall order... then I think it will take away the demand for independence so long as people can see you can have a self-governing Scotland remaining within the UK."
23.50: Dan Hodges has called the referendum for No
“No” has won. Stay up if you like. If you choose to, there’ll be some fantastic coverage here on Telegraph Blogs. But it’s over. “No” has won; they'd won before the latest and final YouGov poll called it for No, 54-46.
They didn’t win because of Gordon Brown’s dramatic and passionate intervention. Or because of David Cameron’s emotional appeals. Or because of Ed Miliband’s brave attempt to take his message directly to voters on the streets.
They won two and a half years ago when the referendum was first announced. Scotland, for reasons best known to itself, doesn’t want to be an independent nation.
Throughout this campaign there has never been a single moment when the “Yes” campaign has been ahead. For all the madness of the past two weeks, the history books will show this – there was only one poll, one solitary, rogue poll, that showed the people of Scotland voting for independence.
But because of that poll, the constitutional settlement of the UK has been torn apart. Or it hasn’t been torn apart. Scotland has been guaranteed “Home Rule”. The rest of us have been told we are about the become members of a federal Britain. And why? Because half a dozen people told a pollster they might tick that tiny box marked “Yes”. I wonder how many of them actually did?
23.40 Scots in the US are happy about the timing of the result - in San Francisco it will drop in time for the news
23.31: One in ten no voters encountered "unreasonable behaviour" at polling stations, YouGov poll finds
Ballot papers in a bundle show NO votes against the Scottish referendum at a count centre
Bill Gardner, news reporter, has a bit more detail on that final YouGov poll of voters who had already cast their ballots: "One in ten No voters encountered “unreasonable behaviour” by Yes campaigners at polling stations today, according to YouGov.
"In the final poll of the campaign, voters were asked whether they had encountered active supporters of the Yes and No campaigns at their local polling station and, if so, whether the campaigners had acted reasonably.
"Ten percent of No voters said they had encountered unreasonable behaviour by Yes campaigners, while five percent of Yes voters said they had seen No campaigners behaving badly."
Apathy was a major danger for the No campaign, but it appears voters have come out in force to save the union.
According to YouGov, No supporters were “slightly more likely” to turn up and vote than Yes supporters.
The pollsters said this contributed to a “small shift on the day from Yes to No”.
23.14: There are thousands of Saltires in Glasgow's George Square
Christopher Hope is here: "There must be 3000 Scots in Glasgow's George Square who are celebrating like they have won the World Cup. The atmosphere is one of joyous celebration.
"They are wildly waving Saltires, and chanting "Scotland, Scotland" and "Flower of Scotland". They seem to think they have won the Scottish indpendence referendum. We will know in hours.
Glasgow decides: Yes vote celebrate regardless of the result in George's Square
23.11: The Queen is following referendum closely
Sky is reporting royal sources that she will be watching the results of the referendum with Prince Philip at Balmoral.
23.07: The view from the Catalans
Tonight's referendum in Scotland is being eagerly watched by Catalans across Barcelona.
Bruno Waterfield reports:
They hope a Yes vote will give unstoppable momentum to Catalan plans for a November vote on independence despite staunch opposition from the central government in Madrid.
“Scotland has won whether the result is Yes or No,” said Rosa Gil, 65, the proprietor of Barcelona’s famous Casa Leopoldo restaurant, a haunt of Catalan writers, such as the late Manuel Vázquez Montalbán.
“If Scotland can vote then so can we. This is less about independence than democracy,” she said.
His character, the city’s internationally renowned gastonome and private detective, Pepe Carvalho, mixed food, conversation and radical politics. It is a tradition that, according to Mrs Gil, still shapes the Catalan spirit.
She is the third generation to run her restaurant since 1929, through revolutions, civil war and fascism. She bitterly regrets that Spanish and European politics has lost its passion and hopes a vote for Catalan independence can breath life back into a new generation.
“We fought Franco. I still have the fighting spirit but young people now just want to escape their troubles. All of us in Europe are in danger of losing our rights that were hard fought for by my generation, my father, my grandfather," she said.
23.01: This is that graphic from CNN with 110% of Scottish voters turning out David reported on earlier (21.55)
22.49: Sir Malcolm Bruce says no has been feeling "momentum swinging back to our side"
Ballot boxes being opened at the counting centre in Edinburgh
He admits there was "possibly some complaceny in our campaign" because people had felt that it would never be this close.
Everyone involved in the No campaign had been guilty, he told Sky News, of failing to explain not only dangers but also the heart and emotion.
Being Scottish is in part being British, he added, "when they looked at that they didn't want to lose it."
22.32: YouGov have announced their final prediciton - YES 46% to No 54%
This is based, as I said earlier, on phone interviews with people they have previously contacted after their visit to the polling station today, asking them what they had voted.
22.31: Alistair Carmichael, the Scottish Secretary is on Sky News
He is defending why it was a simple yes/no vote, rather than including a "devo-max" option on the ballot paper. The poll, he said has to be about independence. "You couldn't cloud that picture in any way".
22.27: Clackmannanshire is one of the areas planning on being the first to announce results tonight just after 2am
Tom Rowley has just arrived at the count:
History has so much more of a hold on the popular imagination north of the border. Driving me to the count in Clackmannanshire just now, a taxi driver reminded me that the Battle of Bannockburn was waged nearby, 700 years ago. "We're going to win again tomorrow," this Yes voter insisted.
Meanwhile, on the streets of Alloa, Allan Kane, a roofer, made his allegiance quite plain. He was wearing a frankly magnificent Union flag ensemble, with red, white and blue t-shirt, shorts - and shoes. "It's Great Britain - and we should stay Great Britain as far as I'm concerned," he said.
All being well, we should know which of them the majority of Clackmannanshire voters agree with by 2.30pm, when the declaration is expected in Alloa Town Hall.
22.15: Blair McDougall, the campaign director of Better Together has been on Sky News
He said that there is a "near 100% turnout" in some areas and that the first ballot box is arriving at the hq of the No campaign.
There are rumours Alex Salmond will not appear until after the final result has been announced.
22.07: An exit poll of sorts...
Earlier I explained how we wouldn't get a full exit poll calling the result the way but YouGov will be publishing their final prediction based on recontacting voters after they voted at 10.30pm.
22.00: And the polls have closed...
21.55: More from the US where Scotland's big moment is gaining traction on the big networks, although there is some confusion amongst pundits
David Millward, US Correspondent reports
The knife edge vote seems to be getting a bit much for CNN or at least its graphics department. Viewers have been told that 52 per cent of voters will vote no and 58 per cent will vote yes. Clearly both sides are giving 110 per cent in the last few hours of voting.
CNN seems to be worried about what would happen to all the tatty UK branded souvenirs which Americans buy when they come to the UK.
21.43: The turnout is going to be high, as are emotions and one lady needs to stay calm at the centre of the storm
Scotland's chief counting officer has the auspicious job of announcing the final result tomorrow as everyone settles down to their cornflakes.
She spoke to The Telegraph:
21.32: Why are there no exit polls?
Patrons have a drink at Dirty Dick's pub as they wait for the result
It will be a long night awaiting the results, with the first declarations not expected until 2am at the earliest. For big votes - the general election for example - the broadcasters begin using exit polls to indicate a possible winner moments after the poll closes. Not so this time.
No broadcaster or large media organisation has commissioned one. Exit polls are collected by large numbers of researchers asking thousands of people asking how they voted as they leave polling stations.
Collecting information about age and gender as they go they tend to be the most accurate reading of the electorate and would be particularly useful in a vote as close as this one.
This costs a lot of money and requires a lot of planning.
It could be that the wide lead No had just a few months ago left decision makers who commission such polls feeling that there would be no close vote to call. A straight yes or no vote rather than the hundreds of constituencies that make up the general election could have seemed too simple to require an exit poll all of its own.
So instead we will wait. The first indications come at 2am but with the vote split quite regionally – strong no in the borders, strong yes in Dundee and the Glasgow with a massive 11.5% of Scots not declaring until 5am, it could be a case of the blind leading the blind.
21.10: Letter from America
The referendum is making waves across the pond too, although some Americans seem baffled by some of the more complex historical implications
20.05 Alex Salmond has claimed on a whistle stop tour of his constituency that 99 per cent of Scotland will be “perfectly happy” with the outcome of the referendum, whatever it is, writes Auslan Cramb
Visiting towns and villages in Aberdeenshire, the First Minister said he was enjoying the “excitement of the day” but refused to predict the outcome.
He said: “The campaign is fantastic, it is very much a people’s campaign, it is everybody’s dream. We are feeling very happy with the way things are going but it is in the hands of the people, no better place to be.”
Asked about the Church of Scotland’s plan for a service of reconciliation at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on Sunday, amid fears of trouble after the result is known, the First Minister said: “I think you’ll find that 99 per cent of Scotland will be happy with the result, whatever it is, they just wanted the vote.”
His visits to Strichen, New Pitsligo, Turriff, Ellon, Newmachar and Inverurie were preceded by a people carrier blaring out the Big Country song, One Great Thing, which has been adopted as the unofficial campaign anthem.
The chorus was followed by Mr Salmond’s voice asking the north-east of Scotland to “lead the way”, adding: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, vote Yes for Scotland today.”
Running around two hours behind schedule, he dropped into shops and restaurants and posed for hundreds of selfies with activists and members of the public.
Shortly after 7pm, he made an impromptu address to Yes supporters in the centre of the market town of Inverurie, telling them: “I just met a soldier who hasn’t voted for 24 years, I met a lady of 61 years old across the street there who had never voted in her life.
“Just think about that, these are people who for the first time in a long time, or for the first time ever, think finally there is something worth voting for.
“And what is worth voting for is not me or any political party or any politician, what they are voting for is an idea and a concept that we can actually make things better in her own country.
“We can actually look to build, not overnight, not the day after independence, but by working hard over a period of time we can create a more prosperous economy and we can create a more just society.”
He claimed the Yes campaign was gaining ground with “every passing minute” and urged activists to get one extra person into polling stations.
Mr Salmond added: “This is our time, the time we can take the future of Scotland into our own hands. I think we are going to win by a lot more than one vote, but you never know.”
Alex Salmond meets members of the public on a walkabout in Inverurie (Reuters)
Everywhere he stopped, he also mentioned Andy Murray’s unexpected, 11th hour tweet in favour of independence, describing it as a “forearm smash” from the tennis player, who lives in the south of the England and does not have a vote.
In Turriff, the First Minister knocked on doors on the aptly-named Knockie Street.
Most of the voters he met in his own back yard were supporting independence, but some refused to tell him how they voted, and one said after he had gone that he regarded Mr Salmond as a “Tory in a kilt”.
Another constituent, who did not want to be named, said: "It's totally unexpected seeing him here. I would have thought he would be down in Edinburgh or something."
Allan Scott, who joined the SNP 60 years ago, said "it was a dream come true" to see the referendum taking place.
But John Flint, 74, said he did not trust the SNP, calling them "Tories in kilts", adding: “I've voted Labour all my life and I have no trust for Alex Salmond or the SNP.”
Dillon Fowlie, an 18-year-old supermarket worker, said independence was a "vanity project" for Mr Salmond.
"I don't think the UK is broken and if it isn't broken then there is no need to fix it,” he added.
20.02 Alex Salmond tells Telegraph he expects '95 per cent of Scotland will be perfectly happy with the result, whatever it is'
19.25 "The Scottish referendum is taking place at this moment, which can decide the future of Britain - but also of Europe." France’s President Hollande, addressing a news conference.
19.05 Here's the latest from Auslan Cramb on Salmond
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