Updated 11.55pm
“ABOVE ALL THANK you to Scotland for 1.6 million votes for Scottish independence.”
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has called on all of Scotland to accept the result of the independence referendum but says people will now expect promises from Westminster to be honoured.
Speaking after the defeat of the referendum became a reality, Salmond told supporters that he accepted the verdict of the people:
Scotland has at this stage decided not to become an independent country, I accept that verdict of the people and I call on all of Scotland to follow suit in accepting the democratic verdict of the people of Scotland.
He thanked all who campaigned during the course of the referendum but reserved his biggest thanks for those for those who chose an independent Scotland.
Salmond made particular reference to the success of the referendum as an example of democracy, hailing the 86% turnout as “a triumph”:
I think the process by which we have made this decision as a nation reflects enormous credit upon Scotland, a turnout of 86% is one the highest in the democratic world for any election or referendum in history…This has been a triumph for the democratic process and for participation in politics.
As part of his speech, Salmond said the vote has put pressure on the main Wesmintser parties to deliver on their promises for greater powers for Scotland, something he said had to implemented quickly.
“The unionist parties made vows late in the campaign to devolve more powers to Scotland, Scotland will expect these to be honoured in rapid course,” he said.
The leader of the Better Together campaign Alastair Darling has described the result as “momentous” saying that saying that Scotland has “chosen unity over division”.
Darling said that it Scotland ‘must move on from the constitution to concentrate on the day-to-day issues’.
Prime Minster David Cameron is expected to deliver a statement from Downing Street after 7am.
First published 7.09am
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