Nicola Sturgeon hopeful of large turnout in EU referendum as she casts vote
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said she is hopeful of a large turnout in Scotland in the European Union referendum as she cast her vote.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said she is hopeful of a large turnout in Scotland in the European Union referendum as she cast her vote.
Accompanied by husband and SNP chief executive Peter Murrell at Broomhouse Community Hall in Glasgow, Scotland's First Minister greeted voters at the polling station and posed for pictures.
She said: "I'm feeling really optimistic and have just voted with my head and my heart.
"From what I could see on social media the weather is very patchy across the UK.
"I saw reports of people turning up to vote in pouring rain, but it's blue skies and sunshine in Glasgow - as always - so it's perfect voting weather."
Voting got under way at 7am in a ballot which could itself trigger a second vote on Scottish independence.
In 2014, voters north of the border opted by 55% to 45% to remain part of the UK in a referendum on independence.
But Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly warned that vote could be revisited if Scotland is "dragged" out of Europe against its wishes, if the UK as a whole opts for Brexit.
While voters north of the border are expected to back remaining part of the European Union, the picture across the UK is less clear.
Ms Sturgeon has said that "Scotland can have a big impact on the final vote", with Scots voters also potentially able to keep the UK in the European Union.
She has however already revealed that Scottish Government officials have been working on contingency plans for what could happen if the overall result is to leave the EU.
Ms Sturgeon and the leaders of the four other parties at Holyrood - Ruth Davidson of the Conservatives, Labour's Kezia Dugdale, Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie and Patrick Harvie from the Scottish Greens - have all been campaigning for a Remain victory.
But Ukip's Scottish leader David Coburn MEP has said he believes a majority of Scots could vote to quit the EU.
"Everyone is saying they are voting to Leave, and I find very few people who say they are voting Remain," he said while campaigning in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
"I think there is a majority for Leave in Scotland, or it is very close."