Scottish independence referendum: Scotland votes no - as it happened

From the Press Association.

Yes sources in West Lothian say their reporting indicates 53% in favour of No.

David Cameron and the Queen are both planning to calm tensions after the heated two-year Scottish referendum campaign when they make statements on Friday after the formal declaration of the result, report Nicholas Watt and Patrick Wintour.

Cameron was expected to use the occasion to show that the coalition is committed to delivering the pledge, outlined by the leaders of the three main UK parties in the final days of the campaign, to deepen Scotland’s devolution settlement.

The Queen, who is understood to have watched the referendum debate with close interest, is planning to issue a written statement in the afternoon. It is understood that the Queen, who was praised by both sides during the campaign, believes that it is important to send a message of reconciliation after the heated debates.

Alberto Nardelli writes on the turnout figures:

Overall turnout remains high on 81%. East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire and Stirling all reported turnout above 90%. Turnout in Glasgow though was “only” 75%. It is worth keeping in mind that Glasgow has historically low turnout in elections. With parts of the city reporting less than 50% turnout at the general election. Either way, on paper at least, the figure isn’t good for Yes.

Here’s the result for Orkney.

No: 10,004 (67.2%)

Yes: 4,883 (32.8%)

Turnout: 83.7%

That’s no surprise. Orkney is one of the most pro-union authorities in Scotland. In the Paddy Power list of authorities most likely to vote yes, it was sixth from the bottom. Credit Suisse gave it a yes rating of 0/10.

Like Nicky Woolf, Guardian US business and technology reporter Dominic Rushe is following the results from a Scottish bar in New York City. But our colleague Kayla Epstein questions the establishment’s authenticity: “Their special drink menu for the evening only contains one whisky, and it’s a blend.”

Huw Edwards says the BBC thinks the national turnout figure will be around 85%.

The no campaign is now confident of winning the Aberdeenshire area – which includes first minister and leader of the independence campaign Alex Salmond’s constituency, Ben Quinn reports.

Alex Johnstone, a Conservative MSP, told the Guardian that at this stage it appeared to be a 60 to 40 split in favour of a no vote in the area, where a final result is expected to be announced at around 3am or after.

He said: “I’ve seen boxes and I’ve sampled boxes from all over Aberdeenshire - and while at this stage I haven’t seen anything from the Banff coast, which is probably where the SNP [yes vote] is strongest - I’ve seen boxes which are 50 / 50 and in other cases I’ve seen as much as four to one for no.

“I think given the higher density of votes in the towns, I would guess that we are maybe looking at a 60 to 40 split in favour of no within Aberdeenshire.

“It [the result] is not exceeding the expectations I would have had a fortnight ago but this has become a much harder, much tighter fight.”

And here are some more turnout figures.

Back to New York, where Nicky Woolf is at Manhattan’s oldest Scottish bar, St Andrew’s bar near Times Square. Chris Byiers, originally from Aberdeen, has come up to New York from his home in Philadephia to watch the results come in. His T-shirt says: “Ye can stick yer union up yer erse” on it - so it’s fair to say he’s probably a yes supporter.

He says he doesn’t think it matters all that much if Scotland votes no tonight - it would just be a setback for another 10 or 15 years, he says. “There’s an inevitability to independence,” he says.

He says that he’s found American TV coverage of the debate surrounding Scottish independence “very dysfunctional”.

“They’re selling a story, not reporting a story. It’s a little cartoonish,” he said.

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In Glasgow the turnout was 75%, the returning officer has just announced.