FREEDOM!!!! [3]

Oh I live in buckie hope yet. I will only concede it when the results say so- until then I still hope for a YES.

edit add- couple of results apparently due in soon!

Clackmannanshire Yes 46.20% No 53.80%.

Yeah. Hope thats not an omen. The big areas are the keys though. The smaller areas tend to come in first as it takes less time to count.

It's a drop in the Ocean really so nothing to get that worked up about, Glasgow etc are much more likely to swing towards the yes camp as far as I can tell...

Then again I'm in favour of the Union (for now) so I doubt you'd care what I have to say!

Just because I dont agree about whats best for the way forward doesnt mean I dont care what people in England think- if its a YES you will still be our neighbours and oldest partners. That doesnt change.
There will be more areas of cooperation than not.

Was Clackmannanshire considered to be YES-leaning or NO-leaning, going into tonight?

Orkney gone for No by 6000 votes- but that was always expected.

Orkney votes NO, as expected.  10,004 to 4,883. 84% turnout I think they said.

Watching BBC Scotland's coverage live right now on the official website.

http://www.bbc.com/news/events/scotland-decides/live

If you are watching BBC Scotland Eldo you will be witnessing Johan Lamonts amazing ability to look miserable even when winning!

Gonna go be social with the family since the big constituencies are still far away from reporting, I'd imagine. I can't stay up too late but I will be back in a bit.

This reminds me of our awesome 2012 Presidential election thread.

Did they only use paper ballots? No rigged voting machines like in the USA?

No all paper.

Shetland goes for NO. Another expected result however.

That would be bad if accurate.
Aberdeen and Glasgow are the two key areas to watch for though.

BBC Scotland is now people from both sides arguing with each other. It feels just like US cable news!

Well they've got a lot of time to fill!

Sounds like this guy is speaking arabic.

Western Isles goes No, just. Thats the main islands all gone No.

Thats Gaelic Bungo. They still speak it out there in the isles.

But thats not a good result, YES had high hopes of winning that one.

Going to need some big mainland wins now for a YES to have a chance.

I had read a bunch of articles recently about the islands (Western and Northern) being just as skeptical of Edinburgh as they are of London, so I'm not shocked by this result. Although one of those articles also said that the Hebrides were a SNP stronghold, despite being lukewarm on the independence issue. Still a disappointing result, of course, but it's hard to be too disappointed given the level of engagement and democracy in action here.

And I'm glad that the fog/plane issue ended up not delaying the count. Everyone I've mentioned that to today (which has been a number of people ) has been amused by it, although I'd imagine the same thing is true in, say, Alaskan elections.

it's hard to be too disappointed given the level of engagement and democracy in action here.- Eldo

That is a plus. Id rather have independence than a good debate mind you.
But if it is a NO London has to deliver on their promises made or things could go pear shaped very fast indeed.

But it is looking like the NO sides getting an array of companies to make threatening noises about leaving if there was a YES may have paid off, especially when combined with Gordon Brown (who still has a lot of respect up here) making the promise of home rule and federalism.