Glasgow votes YES

By Linda Sinclair in Glasgow

Scotland's biggest city was key in the referendum and in the end it delivered a yes vote.

But, despite 194,779 people casting their ballot in favour of independence it wasn't enough to swing it for the yes campaign.

Eight Scottish Parliament constituencies - Anniesland, Cathcart, Kelvin, Maryhill and Springburn, Pollok, Provan, Shettleston and Southside make up the Glasgow vote, some 11.4% of the vote across Scotland.

It was a night and early morning of highs and lows. I arrived at the Emirates Arena to the main hall around 8pm and it was eerily quiet with only a few staff dotted about and some TV and radio journalists setting up but, within an hour counting staff started drifting in and there was a shift in mood to one of anticipation.

As the polling station for Shettleston is located in the hall next door when the polls closed at 10.00pm the ballot boxes were quick to arrive.

Photographers with their camera flashes going off and electoral agents crammed around the tables watching the ballot papers spill out.

As the evening unfolded there was some referendum drama amid claims of electoral fraud.

Police Scotland are investigating over allegations 10 people at separate city constituencies who had already voted, then tried to vote a second time.

That probe is ongoing.

As the evening progressed it looked more like a no vote and there was an air of despondency in the Yes camp but with the arrival of Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in siren red, their mood was lifted and chants of "Yes we can" rang out.

Their celebrations were to be short lived as they watched the big screen glumly to see yet more No votes coming in across the country.

Later a dejected Nicola Sturgeon says the results "shows people want change" and it's sent "a significant message to Labour". She says "she's personally deeply disappointed but exhilirated by the campaign".

Yes 194,779 (53.49%) No 169,347 (46.51%) Yes maj 25,432 (6.98%) Electorate 486,219; Turnout 364,126 (74.89%)