Voting in EU referendum showing divide between Scotland and England

Results so far in the European referendum appear to show a divide between Scotland and England, with voters north of the border showing much stronger support for Remain.

While support for Brexit was stronger then expected in some parts of England - with a host of areas including Sunderland voting for Leave - all the areas where votes have been counted in Scotland so far had a majority for Remain.

Former first minister Alex Salmond said the result of the referendum across the UK "is going to go right down to the wire".

And he again warned that Scots could hold a second independence referendum if the country is "dragged" out of the European Union.

Mr Salmond, who stood down as SNP leader after losing the 2014 independence referendum, told the BBC that there had been "a very strong turn out in Scotland and it's a very strong vote so far for remain".

He said: "Scotland looks like it is gong to vote solidly Remain. If there was a Leave vote in England, dragging us out the EU, I'm quite certain Nicola Sturgeon would implement the SNP manifesto."

The party's manifesto ahead of May's Scottish Parliament election said Holyrood should have the right to hold a second independence vote if there is a "significant and material" change in circumstances from 2014 such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against its will.

Orkney was the first part of Scotland to declare, with 63.2% of voters there backing staying in the EU.

The Shetland Isles, the most northerly part of the UK, also voted for Remain with 56.51% in favour.

Other parts of Scotland to vote to stay in the EU included Midlothian, Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire and Clackmannanshire.

Despite that Ukip MEP and Brexit campaigner David Coburn said: "I'd say on balance people in Scotland are unhappy with the European Union, a lot of them, a good percentage, are going to want to Leave.

"I think a lot of the SNP, ordinary members of the SNP, do not like the European Union and have voted for Leave whereas the leadership are completely out of touch, not only with their own membership but are also out of touch with the working people of Scotland."

Speaking at the count in Glasgow Mr Coburn said: "I think we will Leave but I can't be sure of it. But there's some huge swinging 70-30 in parts in England and in Scotland I believe the Borders are 50-50, I believe Dumfries and Galloway, that's going to be 50-50.

"I think all this nonsense about Scotland being more pro is just that. Nonsense."

On Nicola Sturgeon and the prospect of another independence referendum: "She won't do it, because she'll lose and she knows it. There's no appetitie in Scotland for a second referendum. We had it, they lost, they should live with it."

In East Renfrewshire almost three quarters of those who voted (74.32%) backed a Remain vote.

Speaking at the Glasgow count the SNP's Humza Yousaf, said: ''From a Scottish perspective I'm quietly optimistic that we will have a Remain vote here in Scotland. What's happening in the rest of the UK is too close to call.

''Early results, such as those from Newcastle and Sunderland, don't give me a huge amount of comfort but we've got a long way to go."

In Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, voters backed Remain by a margin of two to one, with 66.59% in favour of staying in Europe, compared to 33.41% who backed a Brexit.

In Moray, in the north east of Scotland, the vote to stay in Europe was by the narrowest of margins.

A total of 50.12% of voters there backed Remain, with the majority over Leave just 119.

SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson dismissed suggestions that the party had not done enough to encourage people to the polls, after voter turnout was just 56.2% in Glasgow.

Defending the SNP against Labour criticisms, he told Sky News: "Turnout has historically always been lower in Glasgow relative to the rest of the country."

He added: "66 per cent of the result (for Remain) is a pretty strong result and frankly to be lectured by the Labour Party which lost almost every single seat in Scotland, I don't think they're really qualified.

"It did come from a source in London who obviously knows nothing about the campaign on the ground here."

He said "We worked very hard. Remain is winning in Scotland."

Just over two thirds (67.2%) of eligible voters in Scotland took part in the referendum, with a total of 2,681,179 votes cast north of the border.

The Remain campaign secured another big win in Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh, where almost three quarters (74.44%) of voters backed Remain.

The Highlands also voted to stay in the EU, with Remain winning 55.95%.

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