West Dunbartonshire votes YES

By Rebecca Cook

The results are in for West Dunbartonshire – one of just a few wards in Scotland with a majority for Yes.

Many locals clearly wanted to have their say in the independence referendum – with a turnout of 87.9%. To put that in perspective, the turnout for the 2014 European Election was 29.9%, for the 2012 Council Elections 41.02%, for the Scottish Parliament Election in 2011 53.71% and 64.10% for the UK Parliamentary Elections in 2010.

Throughout the count, Yes and No campaigners appeared quite calm, waiting for the results to come in. But once a result looked imminent, Yes campaigners gathered in the centre of the sportshall at the Play Drome in Clydebank.

Moments before the result was declared, news filtered through that Dundee had overwhelmingly come out in support of independence. The Yes camp in Clydebank’s response? Cheers of “Yes we can”.

Just minutes later, the result for West Dunbartonshire was declared by Counting Officer Joyce White. She was drowned out by a roar from the gathered crowd before she could finish with further cheers of “Yes we can” – the crowd hugging each other, punching the air, and some even tearful.

The final result - 33,720 ballots for Yes and 28,776 for No.

Our reporter Rebecca Cook was there, and spoke to local SNP councillor Jim Finn after the result was declared:

Yes 33,720 (53.96%) No 28,776 (46.04%) Yes maj 4,944 (7.91%) Electorate 71,109; Turnout 62,496 (87.89%)