Part 2 Scotland Decides

SNP, the MSP for Dundee City West. It is coming up to six o'clock on

BBC One. You are watching this BBC referendum special from Glasgow. The

BBC is now forecasting firmly that this is a No vote in the

independence referendum. Your response?

I am delighted we are having a No vote. East Dunbartonshire had the

highest turnout in the country, so that is good. The engagement the

public have, have displayed with this debate, seeing turnouts in 80%

in a lot of areas, has been something which all sides can

welcome. It means we have a good base to move forward so everybody

can say Scotland have had its say. People have expressed what we think

and we can move forward and hope we can do that together using the

passion on both sides of the argument because we do want to see

the best future for Scotland. When David Cameron speaks later, what

does he need to say in order to convince you change is on its way?

We will be listening very careful to what he does say. The SNP government

operate as a team and we will make a decision after. She is right, the

energy of this campaign, the enthusiasm of voters on both sides

getting involved in politics for the first time and the number of people

who have registered for the first time. In my city, Dundee, there was

a yes vote and 8000 you people went on to the register for the first

time. It is something we make sure we catch that and hold onto it, as

we move Scotland forward. I think we are close to an important moment, at

the moment where the No campaign will reach its target and I think it

is going to do that in Fife which is Gordon Brown's area. Let's have a

look at the declaration Hall in Fife. They will be getting ready

soon. I think we should stay on these images because if we get the

declaration I think it will be the declaration that takes everybody

over the finishing line. Sarah, why is this of interest to others, not

least because it could take us into the final outcome? Given what we

have seen, we expect this will probably be a No vote. But going

into this election when we did not know what this was going to be, a

lot of it is quite prosperous, but there are high levels of

deprivation, Gordon Brown is the MP. Sir Menzies Campbell is the MP for

North East Fife so there is a strong tradition of Better Together. If it

goes along with the pattern of the rest of Scotland, I think it will be

a decisive No vote. I mentioned Gordon Brown to start clearly

because I am wondering whether his very energetic appearance towards

the end of the campaign, I am not suggesting he had not appeared

before, but his energetic intervention towards the end, will

they have done something to the vote in Fife because of who he is and

where it is? May have done. It is a big question whether it was his

intervention late in the campaign. He had made a few speeches before

but he threw himself into it in the last fortnight and he came up with

the promises of extra powers, came up with the timetable and was making

some forceful arguments. Difficult to say if he has swayed the voters

to change their minds whether Scotland was always preparing to

vote no and he tapped into some of that. Together thought he doing good

work for them and they sidelined both Alastair Darling and Ed

Miliband. I made a call a couple of days ago which I said, this Ed

Miliband event is going to be too late to get on the Ten O'Clock News

and I was told, you noticed, did you? It was clear he was not seen as

a vote winner. His trust ratings were as bad as David Cameron's in

Scotland. There was a conscious decision that Alastair Darling had

suffered in the second debate with Alec Salmond. Gordon Brown spoke to

the part of the electorate that had to be run -- won over. What was

interesting is during this campaign when Ed Miliband did come to

Scotland, he looked uncomfortable. He did not look like he was in

natural Labour territory. Even David Cameron at Chile looked a bit more

comfortable than Ed Miliband. -- actually. It is a problem for Labour

in Scotland going into the 20 15th election, going into the 2016

Holyrood election, if you have a labour leader who cannot speak to

the Labour heartlands. We are still on the images in Fife. We are

expecting the declaration from Fife and we are expecting that to tip the

No campaign over the line and to be able to declare the No campaign has

won this independence referendum in Scotland. Andrew Marr is on the

outskirts of Edinburgh. Forgive me if I interrupt you, if we get this

declaration, but I am wondering at this point, we are on the verge of

the formal confirmation of the victory of the No vote, your

thoughts? This is the moment we can go off and get taken some wedges, I

hope! It is clear what is happening now. -- bacon sandwiches. Scotland

has delivered a shock which will change the British system. What I

have seen over the last half an hour of interviews is a very important

and potentially damaging split. All the Labour politicians are prepared

to seek federal parliaments or assembly but not an English

Parliament. Lots of Tory MPs want to see an English federal parliament.

It is a big split. I don't see how that will be resolved between the

parties. Labour does not want an English Parliament because they

would not dominate in the foreseeable future. There is a big

argument coming up between the Conservatives and the Labour Party

would Liberal Democrats probably somewhere in the middle. It is the

kind of thing that could produce a very long delay before we get real

radical change. I think a Scottish parliament will get its extra powers

relatively soon as promised by Gordon Brown. But the English

question will fester for some time to come.

The Scottish Independence Referendum Bill on the 18th of September 20

14th hereby certify and declare, the total number of ballot papers

counted in the referendum is 254,162 and the turnout is 84.1%.

APPLAUSE The total number of votes cast is as

follows. Yes, 114,148. No, 139,788. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

there were 226 reject did ballots. The reason for rejection are as

follows. We have the results from Fife and just to underline what has

happened, because this is a significant results, the No

campaign, a very big majority for them in Fife. 55% to 45% and that

means we are approaching the moment where we can say exactly what has

happened in this referendum. And that is it, Scotland has voted no in

this referendum on independence. The results in Fife has taken the No

campaign over the line and the official results of this referendum

is no. It is a significant moment, Sarah? What was make clear

throughout this campaign is the status quo was not on the ballot

paper. If you voted no, which is what the country has done, you are

not voting for things to stay the same. But it was never clear how

they were going to change. We will be talking about that over the next

few weeks, days and months, possibly years. There are huge questions

raised by the scale of constitutional change and it is

difficult to see how they can be sure -- sorted in a short time.

Scotland has reject independence and has done it by a significant margin.

It was Alec Salmond who said in advance, if this was the outcome, it

would be it for a generation. Nicola Sturgeon said that meant for at

least 15 years. When you look at this result, you might think it is

over, the constitutional debate is at an end. Because the Yes vote has

done so well, because it got over a million votes, it is in the mid 40%,

it is clear there was some form of mandate for change. It was a wreck

the random, not just on the constitutional status of Scotland at

the entire political establishment and political class and many people

rejected the status quo. The argument will begin, rather than end

about what needs to change in Scotland to give it some form of

certainty about it future governing relationships with Westminster. As a

result of that it will unlock a great debates, not had before, about

the governing arrangements in England, about extending them in

Wales and extending them in Northern Ireland. In one sense we are at a

profound moments, we are at the end of a journey for some people who

have dreamt of Scottish independent, not just for weeks, months or years,

decades. On another level we are at the beginning of a huge national

conversation about how the UK changes. If you are just joining us,

we can confirm the latest results in have taken the No campaign over the

finishing line and Scotland has reject did independence and Scotland

has voted to stay within the United Kingdom. This was the reaction in

the Better Together headquarters a few moments ago.

Jo Swinson and Joe Fitzpatrick still here. In this instance, you will be

celebrating, if you whether you would be celebrating with them? I am

delighted we have got this No vote. It is a good result for Scotland and

a good result for the rest of the United Kingdom. I am very excited

because this isn't just the end of the journey, it is the beginning of

further change. As a Liberal Democrat I am excited about the

prospect about the move towards more powers for the Scottish parliament.

And that's constitutional question generally across the UK about

getting power out of Westminster and back in the hands of people in

communities up and down the country. It is an agenda I had not

necessarily predict it. Two or three years ago when this debate started

that we would be in this position, but I think it is incredible that we

are. Now we have the official verdict, what do you say? I am

hugely disappointed. I truly believe independence is the best way for

Scotland to forge a better future. But we always said we would respect

the people of Scotland so I congratulate the No campaign on

their victory tonight. But the Better Together campaign is

celebrating and campaigners can celebrate as well but what might be

more difficult right now, they had a fantastic campaign involving people

who had never been involved in politics before. I hope as we move

forward, as the disappointment edges away a little bit, we can find a way

to keep those people engaged in Scotland. Scottish politics has

changed for ever. Some people expressed a view it would be

difficult to mend some of the damage of the campaign? I think

overwhelmingly, the campaign has been good-natured. There were small

numbers of people on both sides who have let the country down, but these

are tiny numbers of people. Overwhelmingly this has been a great

experience for democracy and something Scotland can be proud of.

And, I thought on any damage caused by and in the campaign and whether

you think it is something that can heal quickly? What struck me during

campaigning is there were some engaged debates and that was in

family groups, friendships and workplaces on different sides of the

debate. It was done in a good-natured way. The worst some

exceptions to that which were quite worrying, but we do need to bring

people together and one future for Scotland and use that energy and

passion we have seen in the debate to help of the best future for

Scotland. At this moment, I think it is worth telling viewers, people

waking up to this news and I am just wanting to underline not just the

result, but what we can now expect because we can now expect a

statement later from Alec Salmond but before that, in fact here we

are, on time, this is the First Minister and his response.

Can I say thank you for that reception?

But above all thank you to Scotland for 1.6 million votes for Scottish

independence. Our friends in the Highlands of

Scotland are still to speak so the final results are not in. But we

know that there is going to be a majority for the No campaign and it

is important to say that our referendum was an agreed and

consensual process and Scotland has by majority decided not, at this

stage, to become an independent country. I accept that verdict of

the people, and I call on all of Scotland to follow suit in accepting

the democratic verdict of the people of Scotland.

APPLAUSE I think all of us in this campaign

will say that the 55%, the 1.6 million votes, is a substantial vote

for Scottish independence and the future of this country.

Let us say something that I hope unites all campaigns and all Scots.

I think the process by which we have made our decision as a nation

reflects enormous credit upon Scotland. A turnout of 86% is one of

the highest in the democratic world for any election or any referendum

in history. This has been a triumph for the democratic process and for

participation in politics. APPLAUSE

And for example, the initiative by which 16 and 17-year-olds were able

to vote has proved to be a resounding success. I suspect that

no one will ever again dispute their right and ability to participate

fully and responsibly in democratic elections.

APPLAUSE So we now face the consequences of

Scotland's decision. Firstly clause 30 of the Edinburgh Agreement is now

in operation. On behalf of the Scottish Government, I accept the

result and I pledge to work constructively in the interest of

Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. Secondly, the Unionist

parties made flowers late in the campaign -- made promises late on a

campaign to devolve more powers to Scotland. Scotland will expect these

to be honoured in rapid course. Just as a reminder, we have been promised

a second reading of a Scotland Bill by the 27th of March next year. And

not just the 1.6 million Scots who voted for independence will demand

that that timetable is followed, but all Scots who participated in this

referendum will demand that that timetable is followed.

APPLAUSE I have been speaking to the Prime

Minister and will do shortly after this statement and I have a press

conference today to reflect on that and the full results, but can I

return thirdly to the empowerment of so many Scots entering the political

process for the very first time? It is something that is so valuable and

it have to be cherished, preserved and built upon. I have said it a

number of times in this campaign that the most moving thing I saw was

the queue of people in Dundee two or three weeks ago, patiently waiting

to register to vote. Most of them for the first time ever deciding to

participate in the democratic process. Today I met a 61-year-old

lady just coming out of the polling station who had never voted before

in her life. I met a soldier, a former soldier, who hadn't voted

since he had left the army some 24 years ago. And these people were

inspired to enter democratic politics by the thought that they

could make a difference in building something better for the country.

These are people who all of us as we campaign to have met and been

inspired by. -- campaigned. All of us have been inspired by the people

we encountered. Whatever else we can say about this referendum campaign,

we have touched sections of the community who have never before been

touched by politics. These sections of the community have touched us and

touched the political process. I don't think that will ever be

allowed to go back to business as usual in politics again.

APPLAUSE So, friends, sometimes it is best to

reflect where we are on a journey. 45%, 1.6 million of our fellow

citizens voting for independence. I don't think that any of us whenever

we entered politics would have thought such a thing to be either

credible or possible. I think over the last few weeks, we have seen a

scare and a fear of enormous proportions. Not the scaremongering

directed at the Scottish people, but the scare and the fear at the heart

of the Westminster establishment as they realised the mass movement of

people but was going forward in Scotland. -- that was going forward

in Scotland. And therefore, today of all days, as we bring Scotland

together, let us not dwell on the distance we have fallen short. Let

us dwell on the distance we have travelled and have confidence that

the movement is abroad in Scotland. It will take this nation forward and

we shall go forward as one nation. Thank you very much.

APPLAUSE The First Minister, Alex Salmond,

appearing at 6:20am in Edinburgh, and addressing his supporters, the

Yes campaign, telling them not to dwell on the difference, the way in

which they fell short of the target, but to dwell on the journey, and it

has been a remarkable journey, when you think that a quarter of a

century ago the SNP was considered by many to be some kind of fringe

movement. Here we are in 2014 with a referendum on independence in

Scotland and 45% of voters on an enormous turnout voting for

independence. They didn't win, that is true. The No campaign has scored

a handsome win, as we can demonstrate here at Pacific Quay in

Glasgow. The No campaign has scored 55%, up 1.9 million votes, but one

and a half million people in Scotland actively voted to suggest

the -- rejected the union, and that has to be picked up now by other

prounion parties who have been making big promises and ambitious

pledges in the past few weeks. David Cameron is one of them and the Prime

Minister will be appearing in Downing Street within the hour. We

think it will be shortly after seven o'clock, possibly before 7:15am, to

talk about his response and how he plans to deliver the pledge that was

waived by the parties that Westminster during the last stages

of this referendum campaign. James Landale is in Downing Street for us

this morning. Could you give us a sense of the Prime Minister's

response? Yes, what we know now is that the Prime Minister after seven

o'clock this morning will make what his advisers are saying is a

significant statement. He will speak, we are told, of the need for

the UK to come together. He will speak not just about his plans for

further devolution in Scotland. We are also told he will give a very

clear direction of his plans for how he thinks the constitution, the

devolution settlement, should also be changed and not just in Northern

Ireland and Wales but also specifically in England. They are

pointing us very clearly in that direction. They will not give

chapter and verse, but there is a clear direction that this issue

needs to be addressed and what his ideas should be. We are also told

that he will give a sense that in his view it has been a clear result.

To a certain extent a vindication of his decision to actually decide to

hold this referendum and agree the format. His advisers have asked if

it was the right question being asked, if it was right to allow 16

and 17-year-olds to vote, and not to have the third option on the ballot

paper, and the Prime Minister will say that those questions have been

answered by the clear result that has taken place. We spoke to

Alistair Darling a moment ago about the campaign and we know he will be

speaking to First Minister Alex Salmond later. The Prime Minister

has been up all night watching the results. He has been watching them

come in all night. A statement is not too far away. The Prime Minister

tweeted a short while ago saying that he would give his statement.

Very helpful, not just giving a statement but giving operational

notes these days! James Landale in Downing Street with a taste of what

is to come later this morning, and within 45 minutes roughly the Prime

Minister will give his response to the result of the Scottish

referendum. There will be a weather report for you because lots of you

will be joining us for the first time this morning. You are watching

special coverage of the results of the Scottish independence

referendum. There will be a full weather report shortly, so don't

The time is 632 a.m. . If you are just joining us we are at the

headquarters of BBC Scotland and we have been covering the results of

the Scottish referendum which took place yesterday and the results have

been coming in overnight. We can confirm the No campaign has one. The

people of Scotland have rejected independence and have voted to stay

in the union. Now it is time for a summary of the news.

Voters in Scotland have rejected independence.

The No Campaign has taken a strong lead of 55% against the Yes 45%.

It's been a disappointing night for those hoping that Scotland

On behalf of the Scottish Government I accept the result and I pledge to

work constructively for Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

Second, the Unionist party made vows late in the campaign to devolve more

powers to Scotland. Scotland will expect these to be honoured in rapid

course. It has been a disappointing night for the Yes campaign which has

been ahead in only four areas. David Cameron has congratulated Alastair

Darling on a well fought campaign. That is the word they are not used

to saying, this is the official note campaign, celebrating Scotland

saying no to independence. Their mood was in stark contrast to his.

Alec Salmond about to concede defeat. The total number of votes on

the referendum question is as follows. Yes, 16,350. No, 19,000...

19,036. In central Scotland, it was the first council to declare with

the majority of voters saying no. It sounded the alarm for the Yes

campaign, it was clear the momentum was with their opponents. But there

was some better news for the Yes campaign in Scotland's largest city.

Yes, 194,000. Nope, 169,347. Glasgow wasn't the only city to say yes.

Dundee also backed independence, but the SNP's deputy leader conceded it

was unlikely to be enough. With over a million people voting at this

stage for independence, many will have voted no to independence

because they believed it would deliver substantial more powers for

the Scottish parliament. Things will change in Scotland. The Scottish

parliament will have enhanced powers. Turnout has been high from

75% in Glasgow to more than 90% in sterling. Scotland will have voted

to stay in the UK. The Prime Minister, David Cameron,

is due to make In the event of a victory for the No

campaign, he's expected to set out proposals to devolve more powers to

the Scottish Parliament. We will ask Jeremy Vine to go to the

story of the night so everybody joining us at breakfast time can

catch up with some of the individual results because there were some

dramatic results during the course of the evening. I have been joined

by Doctor John Reid. Thanks the coming in. We will also be talking

to the Scottish Secretary who is with Andrew Marr. All of that coming

up and lots of reaction, taking in the magnitude of this result. It is

a very big political milestone in the history of the United Kingdom.

The first, Jeremy Vine will talk about what happened.

It has been a long night. 32 council areas were voted in. We have all but

one of the results. I will put them on the balcony and we will see the

boats as they came in. Between 1am and 2am, we had just two. In between

2am and 3am, the Western Isles. Not many votes at all. Between 3am and

4am we had in the Clyde and Dundee and others. Dundee was the first

yes. Then up to 4:30 a.m., Falkirk and sterling were those coming in.

But we were waiting for the big councils and just after 4:30am

Glasgow came in. All of these votes going on the balcony. Now you can

see what is happening. The No campaign, well in the lead. The Yes

campaign looking for some luck from somewhere. Between 5am and 6am we

had South and East Ayrshire coming in and that point was when the BBC

could forecast it would be a no vote. Then the winning line was

crossed with Fife coming in. You see the votes on the balcony going past

the winning line and the results of this extraordinary referendum that

Scotland has voted no. There it is, in massive capital

letters on our massive screen. That is the verdict, it is the people's

verdict. We spoke last night about waiting for the people's verdict and

it is a clear verdict, by 55% to 45% roughly, that is what has happened.

They have rejected independence after a highly charged campaign. We

will pick up on some of the points about the nature of the campaign.

And also what the Prime Minister's reaction needs to be because so many

people in Scotland have demonstrated an appetite for change. Let's join

Andrew Marr. I started these long, dark hours

with Alistair Carmichael, the Scottish secretary and so we end

them. You know what the result is and you have heard Alec Salmond's

acceptance speech. He said all Scots, not just the 1.5 million who

voted against the union will expect prompt new powers to be delivered?

Indeed, Alec Salmond can be part of the process of delivering this. We

wanted a decision which would a fair, legal and decisive. We have

achieved all three, I went. The people of Scotland will want to hear

tonight it is accepted by nationalists this is what the people

once and we will not be coming back to this. He should part of the

process in defining what the extra power should be. He had great fun on

your programme not so long ago calling it team Scotland. He now

should come into the team and work along with the rest, he has a

contribution to make. We will see the detail of Scotland built early

next year, by January? We will be publishing the draft clauses

according to the timetable, by the beginning of next year. It will be a

demanding timetable, requiring a lot of hard work and good will buy a lot

of people, not just the political parties. Business, churches and

trade unions, that is how we build consensus in this country. Back to

the studio. Go straight to Edinburgh and

Alastair Darling. We have chosen unity over division

and positive change rather than needless separation. Two Day is a

mentor 's results for Scotland and also for the United Kingdom as a

whole. By confirming our place within the union, we have reaffirmed

all we have in common and the bonds that tight as to gather. Let them

never be broken. -- Tigers to gather.

As we celebrate, we must listen. More than 85% of the Scottish

population voted. People who were disengaged from politics have turned

out in large numbers. While they have voted for the constitution, it

was not the only or perhaps the only issue that drove them to the polls.

Every political party must now listen to their cry for change,

which could be echoed in every part of our United Kingdom, but had the

opportunity to express itself first in Scotland. To those who have

supported us and the great team of volunteers...

in Scotland. To those who have supported us and the great team of

volunteers... All of you, all of the political parties who have worked

for this outcome, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my

heart. Thank you very much. You represent the majority of opinion

and your voices have been heard. We have taken on the argument and we

have one. The Silent have spoken. -- one.

Of course, I understand amongst those who supported yes, there will

be disappointed or even grief. Defeat is painful and I can tell you

that from my own personal experience. I know there are many

people with deep and genuine commitment to Scotland on the yes

side. They will and must continue to make their contribution to the

political debate in our country. But that debate must move on from the

constitution to the day and daily issues that affect their lives and

prospects. The Scottish Parliament must use those of the powers it

holds now and those which are coming to it, to address those concerns.

When the Scottish Parliament was born we talked about devolution

being a journey. It is proud that the Scottish politics is so vibrant

and alive. I am clear the parties who have made shared commitments to

change must start to translate those actions into commitment. I give you

my commitment to support that. We will work with the people of

Scotland in ad van sing these commitments. We must also recognise

the debate has created some deep divisions in our country. It has

been a campaign that has both energised, but at times divided and

some people have felt unable to speak except through the ballot

box. Those divisions need to be addressed and that requires

leadership. My colleagues and I will play our part in bringing our

country together to demonstrate that after this vote we can remain

united. It has not been an easy campaign. Campaigning against Yes

for change is sometimes campaign. Campaigning against Yes

for change is sometimes difficult to argue for No. We were obliged to

point out that some of the arguments for separation were going to cause

damage to our country, but we had to do that because those risks were

real and it is a tribute to the good sense of the Scottish people that

they decided these risks were too great to take. But the vote is over

and the Scottish people have now given their verdict. We have made a

decision for progress and change for Scotland and for the United Kingdom.

Come on, Scotland. Let's get on with it together.

CROWD CHEERS Headquarters in Glasgow. Alistair

Darling, who chaired the No campaign and of course featured in the

debates with Alex Salmond during what was at times it very highly

charged campaign. But speaking there and laying down the law, really.

Saying yes, change has to come, but pointing out that the Scottish

Parliament already has powers that in its view they are not using as

they might. A mixed message there. We are still looking forward to the

statement by the Prime Minister, Mr Cameron, in Downing Street and the

next half an hour. Watching that with me, we have John Reid, who

spoke to us several hours ago now. And Joe McAlpine of the SNP. Thank

you both for joining us. First of all, Alistair Darling's message,

acknowledging it has not been an easy campaign, but saying

essentially people had not responded to fear. They had responded to a

positive message. Let's have your view on that first. First of all it

has been a robust campaign and it has been a very long campaign. Not

just the two years of this campaign. We have been discussing this whole

thing in Scotland for at least 40 years during my time. The people

have now spoken, the votes have been counted, there will be as clear, it

is decisive. The settled will of the Scottish people is that we should

continue to play a part along with the other nations in the United

Kingdom. That is the first thing that is absolutely clear now. Let's

not have any more that we might have a referendum next week or next year.

The second thing is that there are a significant number of people who

want a greater degree of autonomy in our affairs and, because I don't

believe the Yes vote was all about that, there are a lot of people

alienated from politics in general. Probably not just in Scotland but

throughout the UK. We have to address both of those. The third

thing is reconciliation. We should have respect for each other. I do

for Alex Salmond. I thought his speech tonight was gracious. And

Nicola Sturgeon. We are Scotsmen and women and we should work together to

help the reconstruction of not only our own country but the United

Kingdom because the whole idea of the sense of Britishness needs to be

modernised. The constitution. And there are many other issues where we

can work together. I hope that the Scottish National Party and Alex

Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon will involve themselves in the

discussions that we will now start about how we make the Scottish

Parliament not only more powerful but more responsible by raising its

own taxation. And in a wide if they sphere -- and in a wider sphere that

we look at the dressing the needs of the rest of the UK. This vote was

about being members of the club but if you are members of the club,

changing the rules affect all of the members. What is your sense of what

will happen now? The first thing is that we do accept this verdict and

we do accept it with good grace. That was what the Edinburgh

Agreement was all about, that we would accept the verdict of the

Scottish people. I think we also have to accept that 1.6 million of

the Scottish people voted for independence for Scotland. The

question was quite clear. The people who voted yes you what they were

voting for. -- they knew what they were voting for. I don't quite agree

with John. You suggested that some of the Yes vote might be a protest

vote against the bedroom tax, the inequality in the UK, the waste of

money on Trident nuclear weapons. But people knew what they were

voting for. They had been thrown a lot of very scary stories, and

particularly in the weeks before the vote, so they went into the polling

booth and they voted for independence in very large numbers.

We are now talking about a process of reconciliation and I think the

views of those 1.6 million Scots have to be taken on board. OK, OK.

Important thoughts. Stay with us, please, because we have the Prime

Minister talking very shortly. At this moment I would like to say

thank you to our viewers on BBC World, the global audience watching

the coverage, because they are leaving us. Thank you and we hope to

see you on the next referendum special, whenever that is. In the

meantime we are of course going to welcome more viewers joining us

around the United Kingdom who at this time in the morning would be

familiar with lots of regular features on Breakfast television,

including the all-important weather. And my good friend Carol, the

Inverness girl, is at Holyrood with the latest weather. Hello. Hello.

You are quite right, I am in Edinburgh. As you can see it is a

fairly dreich start to the day, cloudy, and misty. If you're heading

out anywhere in the UK today, probably best to practical umbrella

-- pack your umbrella. We have seen thundery downpours across England

and Wales. Not all of us will catch them by any means but they will

rumble on through the day. Starting the forecast at nine o'clock in

Scotland, the brightest conditions will be in the West and around the

Moray Firth. For the rest of Scotland it is a cloudy picture with

drizzle coming in from the North Sea. North West England also seeing

some sunshine and North East England having low cloud. Into the South,

the Midlands, East Anglia, the South coast, this is where we are prone to

catching further thundery downpours. They are hit and miss but if we

catch one, we will know about it. We are not immune to them in the South

West either, especially as we go through the latter part of the day.

Into Wales, we have the risk of thundery downpours as we have seen.

In between there will be bright spells and sunshine. In Northern

Ireland, a murky start to the day with a fair bit of cloud and one or

two showers. Through the course of the day, the risk of thunderstorms

continues anywhere from Wales to the Midlands, East Anglia and

southwards. In between there will be sunshine and we hang on to cloud

coming in from the North Sea. Under the cloud the temperatures will be

lower. Further South we are looking at temperatures in the sunshine

being high but not as high as yesterday. Overnight we hang on to

thunderstorms across Wales as parts of England. It will be humoured. In

Scotland and Northern Ireland, with clearer skies, it will be cooler,

single figures in rural areas, so quite a contrast. Saturday will be

dry and bright in Scotland and Northern Ireland, brighter than it

has been especially in the East. Then three showers across parts of

England and Wales but it will improve from the North as the wind

changes direction. -- thundery showers. The next day starts on a

cool note, but more cloud comes in during the course of the day from

the East. Temperatures again a bit lower. In summary, the showers will

ease, the cloud will break up at times, and there will also be some

sunshine. Thank you. More from Carol later

on. We are at BBC Scotland in Glasgow and we have the result of

this referendum on Scottish independence. There we are. The

headquarters of BBC Scotland, projecting the figures for you. We

still have one result to go but it will not make any difference to the

verdict, which is that the people of Scotland have voted against

independence. 1.9 million to 1.5 million voting in favour of

independence. That is the verdict. We are expecting the Prime Minister

David Cameron to add his thoughts in Downing Street and I can see that

they are making preparations in Downing Street now, sorting out the

lectern and testing the sound. Mr Cameron will be appearing in Downing

Street in a short while and I expect that to happen in about 15 minutes.

In the meantime, not too far away, if we pass through Parliament

Square, we have Andrew Neil for us on College Green.

What is going on? Thank you. We have moved out of our studio. It is a

beautiful morning in London, very mild with not as much mist and fog

as much mist and fog are going to talk about the constitutional

implications. The Westminster party leaders had a panic attack and threw

in much more devolution at the last minute and they now have to deliver

on that. Plenty of people in that building say that is fine for

Scotland but we want to know what it means for England of -- as well. Is

this any way to change a constitution? It isn't. Many of

these promises were made after many people had voted by post. And they

were made without consulting Parliament, in which the majority of

MPs represent English constituencies, and they will be

unhappy about this and they will demand the English question is

looked at again. This referendum has probably awakened the slumbering

beast of English nationalism. That Sirius? I believe so. Gordon Brown

said he believed there would have to be a second reading of the Scotland

Bill by March, and you cannot do that and answered the English

question. Quite right. That is an incredibly fast timetable. How will

that be possible? And English devolution, we saw Andrew Marr

talking about a federal solution to what we have at the moment, and that

it would take years to put it in place. England looking after

immigration and foreign policy, and then Menzies Campbell was talking

about pensions, so what about benefits? In or out? How do you

distinguish an issue that is purely Welsh or English because so many

have knock-on effects to each other? It will be very difficult. The

backbenches in there already are not happy. A Lott saying they do not

feel represented and that Cameron is not listening to them and they will

certainly be saying that this morning. When Parliament comes back,

a lot of tough questions to answer. Can they get away with saying they

will do Scotland and get to England later? I think Cameron will have to

do that because nobody is clear how the inverse question will be

answered. Even if we had never had the referendum debate, Scotland

should have taxing powers. It was crazy to set up a Parliament with

minimal powers to raise money when a local council can raise council tax.

A body representing the people of Scotland without the power to raise

money, so a pocket money Parliament getting money from Westminster, so

when anything goes wrong they can always blame Westminster. We are

talking not just about powers for the Scottish Parliament but fiscal

responsibility, which must be a good thing. The sleeping giant of English

nationalism is now fine if Scotland wants its own tax-raising powers. We

understand that and are even in favour of it. But now we want

England to have tax-raising powers, too. Yes, and people want equality.

The end of the Barnett Formula, which was initially put in as a

temporary formula and which people in England seek as a subsidy on

Scotland now. These things pulled out of the bag by Gordon Brown may

have won the vote, we will never know, but they have caused massive

ructions in Westminster. One big victor from this will be UKIP. We

will look at the Clacton by-election. UKIP think they have

already won and they will be crowing, saying that devolution is

ours and people do not feel represented. There has got to be a

race for who speaks for England. Yes, but I agree that the party that

will be most likely to speak for England will be UKIP, the nearest

thing we have 28 English nationalist party, -- we have to an English

nationalist party. Can you imagine any other country making changes to

the constitution in a piecemeal and panicky way? That is fair enough but

this is much to the credit of democracy. We have done it in a very

fair way and the Catalans are asking for the same. We have had a

democratic referendum and despite allegations of intimidation, it has

roused civic spirit, especially among the young, so perhaps we

should forgive the leaders for panicking. You are academic and

generous! Back to Glasgow. Yes, 7 o'clock in the morning. If

you are waking up and joining us on the BBC, this is our coverage of the

Scottish referendum and the votes have been counted and all the

results are in except one but the verdict is clear. 55% to 45%. The

people of Scotland have rejected independence and they have decided

to stay within the United Kingdom. But what kind of United Kingdom?

What kind of reshaped, reformed, reconstituted United Kingdom will

that be? The Prime Minister may well provide a few clues in a few

seconds. Sarah and Nick are still with me and John Reid and Joe

McAlpine, too. A quick word from each of you on what we are expecting

here. The people have spoken, reject it

independence. More than 1.5 million citizens voted to break away from

the United Kingdom. The biggest city voted by a majority to leave the

United Kingdom. And the British establishment believed in the last

few days that Scotland would break away. So the Prime Minister is

convinced he has 2 offer change, not just to Scotland, as was promised,

but to the people of Northern Ireland, Wales, but particularly

England. That is what this statement is about saying yes, independence is

over and the Scots will get more powers in their Parliament and there

was a promise to deal with the English question. Not create a

parliament, create regional assemblies or new powers to the

city, but in the immediate period after this referendum, that English

MPs must not be allowed to be outvoted by Scottish and Welsh MPs

on issues that affect England alone. It is controversial, it will be

difficult that it does not require a new law. I believe David Cameron has

the support of Nick Clegg to do this but he does not have cross-party

agreement with Ed Miliband. We have a decisive vote, 55% to stay with

the union, a substantial amount of people voting for change. The Prime

Minister signed a pledge to say more powers are coming to Scotland. What

powers, have not been agreed. We have a decisive 55% vote for we do

know what because we were told it wasn't the status quo you are voting

for, but we have not seen an outline of the plans for Scotland, England

or the rest of the United Kingdom so we don't actually know what Scotland

voted for. John, what are we waiting for? We do know what Scotland voted

for, it voted to stay within the United Kingdom. What has got to be

discussed is the rules and the membership of the United Kingdom

itself now that we have said we want to be in it. We will have to meet

the pledges made and the demands for further power for the Scottish

Parliament, because it makes it more responsible as well as more

accountable. It has to address the needs of the other nations of the

United Kingdom including England, and that is now on the table because

we have decided whether Scotland wants to be in the club or not. The

will of the Scottish people is clear, we want to be in it but also

we want greater power over taxation, re-sources, welfare and rowing

powers. The English want to address, as Nick Robinson said, over the

question of, it is unfair if the other free nations can decide

exclusively, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish affairs that the

English cannot decide on birds. It is a natural event that devolution

is a modernised state for the 21st-century. Just looking at the

cross-party attempt at a consensus, how is the Prime Minister going to

get around that in this statement? The Unionist parties have been

talking. They have not agreed a package but they have agreed

timetable. They have identified certain areas of overlap. The Tories

are more radical and giving income tax entirely to the Scottish

parliament, it is labour resisting that. On welfare, the Tories go

further than Labour. But I think we will see some form of committee, and

the questions will be answered later in the day by Alex Salmond as to

whether the SNP will join that committee to draw up the proposals,

or sit to one side and tell what the offer is and then we will give you

our verdict on that offer and we may reject it as not good enough. How

hard is it going to be to set up something credible? The fact is, we

don't start with three blank sheets. We start with the three main parties

having already discussed, not only the results of the Calman commission

which enhances devolution already, but further powers. They agree on

income tax, welfare and other taxation and rowing. As regards the

detail, they disagree. -- borrowing. The Conservatives are saying 40% of

taxation should be devolved but they should reach a compromise in this. I

have Alex Salmond and the SNP Administration will join those

talks. Now we have got the big question out of a way, the Scottish

people want to be in the United Kingdom. I am just doing my warm up

act for the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister gives his response to

the referendum. Good morning. The people of Scotland

have spoken and it is a clear results. They have kept our country

of four nations together. Like millions of other people, I am

delighted. As I said during the campaign, it would have opened my

heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end. I know that sentiment was

shared by people, not just across our country, but also around the

world because of what we have achieved together in the past and

what we can do together in the future. Now it is time for our

United Kingdom to come together and to move forward. A vital part of

that will be a balanced settlements, fair to people in Scotland and

importantly, to everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well.

Let's remember first why we have this debate and why it was right to

do so. The Scottish National Party was elected in Scotland in 2011 and

promised a referendum on independence. We could have tried to

block that, we could have tried to put it off. But just as with other

big issues, it is right to take and not to duck the big decision. I am a

passionate believer in our United Kingdom and I wanted more than

anything for our United Kingdom to stay together. But I am also a

Democrat and it was right and we respected the SNP's majority in

Holyrood and gave the Scottish people their right to have their

say. Let's also remember why it was right to ask the definitive

question, yes or no. Because now the debate has been settled for a

generation, or as Alec Salmond has said, perhaps for a lifetime. So

there can be no disputes, no reruns. We have heard the settled will of

the Scottish people. Scotland voted for a stronger Scottish Parliament

back by the strength and security of the United Kingdom. I want to

congratulate the No campaign for that, for showing people are nations

really are Better Together. I also want to pay tribute to Yes Scotland

for a well fought campaign. To say to all of those who did vote for

independence, we hear you. We now have a chance, a great opportunity

to change the way the British people are governed and change it for the

better. Political leaders on all sides of the debate now bear a heavy

responsibility to come together and work constructively. To advance the

interests of people in Scotland as well as those in England, Wales and

Northern Ireland, for each and every citizen of our United Kingdom. To

those in Scotland, sceptical of the constitutional promises that were

made, let me say this: We have delivered on devolution under this

government and we will do so again in the next Parliament. The three

prounion parties have made clear commitments on further powers for

the Scottish parliament. We will ensure those commitments are

honoured in full. And I can announce today that Lord Smith of Kelvin, who

so successfully led Glasgow's, while James has agreed to oversee the

process to take forward these devolution commitments with powers

over tax, spending and welfare, all agreed by November and draft

legislation published by January. Just as the people of Scotland will

have more power over their affairs, it follows the people of England,

Wales and Northern Ireland must have a bigger say over theirs. The rights

of these voters need to be respected, preserved and enhanced.

It is absolutely right a new and fair settlement for Scotland should

be accompanied by Nu and fair settlement that applies to all parts

of our United Kingdom. In Wales there are proposals to give the

Welsh government and assembly more powers. I want Wales to be heart of

the debate on how to make our United Kingdom work for all of the nations.

In Northern Ireland, we must work to make sure the devolved institutions

function effectively. I have long believed a crucial part missing from

this national discussion is England. We have heard the voice of Scotland,

now the millions of voices of England must also be heard. The

question of English votes for English laws, the so-called West

Lothian question, requires a decisive cancer. So just as Scotland

will vote separately on the Scottish Parliament on their issues of tax,

spending and welfare, so to England as well as Wales and Northern

Ireland should be able to vote on these issues and all this must take

place in tandem with, and that the same pace as, the settlement for

Scotland. I hope this is going to take place on a cross-party basis. I

have asked William Hague to draw up these plans and we will set up a

Cabinet committee right away and proposals will be ready to the same

timetable. I have the Labour Party and other parties will contribute.

It is important we have wider, civic engagement on how to improve

governance throughout the United Kingdom, including how to empower

our great cities and we will say more about this in the coming days.

This referendum has been hard-fought. It has stirred strong

passions. It has electrified a la ticks in Scotland and caught the

imagination of people across the whole of our United Kingdom. --

politics. It has strengthened the vitality of our ancient democracy.

Record numbers registered to vote and record numbers is their vote. We

should be proud of that. It has reminded us how fortunate we are how

we can settle these vital issues at the ballot box peacefully and

calmly. Now we must look forward and turn this into the moment when

everyone, which ever way they voted, comes together to build a

better, brighter future for our entire United Kingdom. Thank you

very much and good morning. We have the Prime Minister's

response to the vote overnight in Scotland. David Cameron setting out

his proposed timetable and his appointment of Lord Smith of

Kelvin, chairman of the successful organising committee of the 20 14th

Commonwealth games, to oversee this process and bring these proposals,

whatever they are in their final form together. Nick Robinson, what

had you make of that? What was striking was the promise to

deliver, the promises in the campaign that there is an individual

now to see it through and stick to the timetable. What is new is what

he's saying about England. Specifically a promise to bring

English votes for English laws, a Tory manifesto promise he did not

deliver on and there was no coalition agreement to. It means

that within Westminster, when there are matters being discussed which

the Welsh assembly has responsibility for, or the Scottish

Parliament or the Northern Ireland assembly, those MPs for those

countries should not be allowed to vote in Westminster. Lots of people

watching that programme, particularly if they are English,

will say it is common sense. Why isn't it so easy? Why isn't it the

case they have not done it up until now? Simple. If you have a Labour

Party in government in Westminster, magically overnight they would have

a majority one day and no majority the next on certain issues. You

would have 2 classes of MPs and uncertainty as to whether the

government could get its own business through. Let alone raising

questions whether a, Welshman or someone from Northern Ireland can

serve in the key offices of state in Whitehall. Proposals have been

brought up in the past in order to come up with solutions which involve

complex voting arrangements in the House of Commons, don't involve new

laws, to try to get round that. My understanding is Nick Clegg leaves

there is a working basis for an agreement. Labour are suspicious

this is a trap to which the Tories want to drop them. I do want to ask

Sarah and my guest for their responses to that. Andrew Marr, it

has been a very long night. Just wondering what your concluding

thoughts are actor the verdict and after what we have heard from Alec

Salmond and David Cameron? What started as a vote on whether

Scotland would leave the UK has ended with an extraordinary

constitutional revolution announced outside Downing Street by the Prime

Minister. It either means the complicated arrangements that Nick

suggests or an English Parliament, which throws down the gauntlet to

the Labour Party that we will see very big change coming and it had

better come quickly. We had always been told that if you laid all the

economists in the world end to end, they would still not reached a

conclusion. This same can be said of parliamentary inquiries and

commissions but the same cannot be said this time because it is not

taking place in the sealed room with the smug consensus of Westminster

parties getting around and arguing with each other, as before. It is

taking place in a huge glass house watched by Scottish voters and

millions around the UK. What the Scottish shop has done is produce a

constitutional revolution on a tight timetable, possibly the most

exciting story in mine or Nick's lifetime. That was Andrew Marr at

the national counting centre. He has been with us all night. William

Hague, the former Foreign Secretary, is with Andrew Neil outside

Westminster. Let's join them. Thank you. I am

joined by William Hague. When the Prime Minister outsourced

constitutional reform to Gordon Brown during the campaign, was the

cabinet consulted? This is something we have all discussed in the

Government. Was the Cabinet consulted? The Cabinet has discussed

Scotland over many months. Was the Cabinet consulted? Was it the Prime

Minister's intention to agree substantially more devolution? That

is already the policy of all three main parties including the two in

the coalition. We have discussed this in the Cabinet over a long

time, this issue. We are all committed to more devolution in

Scotland. Did you know? Of course. You knew he would make the home-rule

offer? Yes. Saying in that pejorative way that it was

outsourced to Gordon Brown, well, he set out what all the three parties

support, the timetable. The Prime Minister has set out who will chair

that process and it will take place over the coming weeks. There is a

growing demand on your own backbenchers for more English

devolution. The Prime Minister mentioned the answer to the West

Lothian question, English votes for English laws. Is that the extent of

English devolution? That is a fundamental issue now. With further

devolution to Scotland it becomes inconceivable to continue to allow

Scottish members to vote on everything that is happening in

England, when English members cannot vote on so much of what is happening

in Scotland. That is the heart of the issue. But we have in this case

been devolving more power to cities, for instance. There are many

more ideas about how we can do more of that. But look, how Westminster

operates is now at the heart of the issue. A lot of your backbenchers

want this Parliament to meet a couple of days a week as an English

Parliament and they are even talking about an English executive. It's any

of that on the cards? I don't think people in this country will want

that and I don't think our work will lead to a new layer of Government.

We are going to consult widely on this process so I am not going to

exclude everything at the beginning but I am giving a clear steer on

where this will head. The heart of the issue is the decision about

England, Wales and Northern Ireland being made by elected

representatives who represent those places and that is what we have to

deal with. The Prime Minister has said he wants to go ahead and the

consensus on this is that most people in the Labour Party are

against this, against English votes for English laws. We have to discuss

this with all the other parties. If there is no consensus then it is

something that at the general election the parties will have to

stake out their positions on. I think there is a strong view among

the people of England as well as in the Conservative Party and the

Liberal Democrat Members of Parliament as well. The Prime

Minister said he wanted Scottish devolution to go in lockstep with

more English devolution. If you can't get consensus on the West

Lothian question, does that hold up Scottish devolution? The enactment

of what we are all talking about on Scottish devolution is after the

general election. Draft legislation in January and a bill to be

introduced for whoever wins the general election in May. That'll be

enacted at the beginning of the next Parliament. I believe the country

can reach a decision. I hope for consensus among parties but if not

it will come out in the general election, how we tackle these other

issues affecting England and Wales. But issues of devolution have been

debated back and forwards and we are all familiar with that. The issue of

English devolution is relatively new and there has been no national

debate about it. Can you tie up in this devolution and stick to the

Scottish timetable? That is what we are trying to do and it is my job to

do it but don't write off how much work there has been on this already.

I agree there has not been the same media and public attention on this

issue as on Scottish devolution but the Mackay commission has reported

on this and given a decisive say. It was not decisive because they said

the vote had to be by everybody voting in the UK Parliament and you

will know, you're Chief Whip will have told you, that will not satisfy

the backbenchers. It may not satisfy me or the Prime Minister. We may

want to go further and have a clearer and more fundamental

solution to what was put forward in the Mackay commission. But your

point was that things have not been discussed and actually they have

been discussed for years. I think now the time has come to focus

attention on these issues and make sure that all parts of the United

Kingdom are fairly represented and people are more closely connected to

the decisions made on their behalf. Part of the promised the Prime

Minister made in the election campaign was that despite extra

taxation powers, the Barnett Formula, which is generous to

Scotland, would remain in place. Is that Britain in stone? We are

committed to the Barnett Formula, or the leaders are. But it has to be

added that Scotland requires more tax-raising powers and raises more

of its revenue, the Barnett Formula becomes less relevant over time.

Scotland would retain the same amount of money spend. The Barnett

Formula becomes a less important component. So if Scotland raises

income tax, the Barnett Formula gets cut? That is how it has been

proposed so far. But remember, there will now be a process. Why would the

Scottish Parliament to do that? They are getting the money coming up from

London and the alternative is to raise taxes. There will be a process

to put these proposals together over the coming weeks. You have some

fundamental questions to answer in all of this and you are not going to

do it by May of next year. I think many of us have thought about these

things for a long time and there have been many reports and debates

about this already, and yes it is a tight timetable but it is an

absolutely necessary timetable because alongside devolution for

Scotland now go these very important issues about the governing of the

rest of the United Kingdom. William Hague, thank you for being with us

this morning. Back to Glasgow. Andrew Neil with

the lead of the house, William Hague. More from our guests in a

moment. I must go to Carol because lots of you will be wondering what

the weather is doing. She is at Holyrood. This morning in Edinburgh

it is a dreich start to the day and if we look at the view outside the

Scottish Parliament, you can see exactly what I mean. Cloudy, murky,

damp, drizzle. It is not just in Edinburgh that we are looking at

that forecast because eastern areas are seeing that. We have scattered

showers in the forecast as well and we have had them through the course

of the night. Some of them have been heavy and sundry across parts of

England and Wales and we will hang onto them through the day. -- heavy

and thundery. In between there will be sunshine. Scotland sees a lot of

cloud coming in from the North Sea and dank conditions. The brightest

skies will be in the West and along the Moray Firth. We have low cloud

coming in to the North East of England. In East Anglia, the

Midlands, further South, this is where we are prone to showers and

some of them will be intense and thundery that not everybody will

catch them. In the South West of England, a similar story. Again,

thundery showers and a lot of us missing them but further thundery

showers developing through the course of the day as well. For

Wales, bright spells and showers, some of which will be heavy. And

into Northern Ireland, a cloudy and murky start to the day. We are not

immune to showers all day but it should tend to brighten up. Talking

of through the day, on the whole it will be fairly cloudy, particularly

in eastern and central areas. West is best in terms of sunshine but we

will hang on to thundery showers with more developing in the South

through the afternoon. Not as warm as yesterday but top temperatures of

24. As we go through the evening and overnight, we will still have

thundery showers and quite a lot of cloud across England and Wales,

meaning once again it will be muggy at night. Clearer skies in Scotland

and Northern Ireland, so cooler here, especially in rural areas with

temperatures down to single figures. It means tomorrow we don't on a

bright note with sunshine, especially in the East. -- we wake

up on a bright note. Thundery showers in the South but an

improvement for the North as we go through the day with sunshine

developing. On Sunday, another cool started the day with some sunshine

and mostly dry to start but some showers through the day. Further

cloud romping in from the North Sea into eastern areas. This weekend,

the showers will ease, the cloud will in and break up and there will

be sunshine around. Thank you. I have a very impatient John Reid next

to me! And Alex Neil is with us from the SNP. Thank you for coming in.

Let's talk about what the Prime Minister had to say and this

mechanism because as Nick and Sarah have been whispering to me, there

are lots of unanswered questions. First of all, are we clearer about

the kind of mechanism that is being proposed to deliver change within

what would be a record space of time? Yes, I think we are. The Prime

Minister said three things. First of all the decision has been taken by

the Scottish people that we want to be part of the United Kingdom, so

for the foreseeable future, a generation as Alex said. So let's

leave that aside. Secondly there is a demand which has been met by a

promise for further enhanced powers for the Scottish Parliament and a

timetable set out for that. That work on that. And thirdly he said,

we can't do that without the need for a reform club in the other

nations including the English. I happen to think that is perfectly

logical and predictable. I think the timetable can be done but the devil

is in the detail. Yes, it is very difficult to work these things out.

If you are a pessimist, you would say it is very difficult. If you are

an optimist, you say it can be done. I am a pessimist of the intellect so

I admit the problems but I am an optimist of the will. I think that

where there is a will... And I hope the SNP will join in the discussions

about the enhanced powers rather than sitting on the side. How ready

will be SNP after this defeat and the disappointment? How quickly can

you put that behind you to take part in the process? The First Minister

has confirmed in a conversation with the Prime Minister that the Scottish

Government will participate in the talks because we are all about

enhancing the powers of the Scottish Parliament. The two key challenges

are rising from the Prime Minister's statement, and they are

firstly to get an agreement. There is a big difference between what the

Labour, Tories and Liberal Democrats are currently proposing. It will be

difficult in this timescale to get consensus on the way forward. The

second issue that I think the Prime Minister will face in terms of the

West Lothian question, people have been looking at this for 40 years

and nobody but nobody has come up with a solution. Where are we going

to get a solution in three months time? Because you have a mechanism,

this commission chaired by Lord Smith, which will have a look at

more powers for the Scottish Parliament. There are different

plans for different parties but substantial overlap and they have

committed to having it ready. Ambitious but doable. He then said

he will and to the West Lothian question and it must be decisively

answered? Hinting that it will be on the same timetable but we don't

know. We don't know how multiparty talks will take place on that. There

is much less agreement on how to answer the West Lothian question

among the main parties. In 1978 this was asked for the first time in

Parliament and it has been asked ever since. Nobody has come up with

an answer that everybody can agree to. There was a phrase that William

Hague used that was interesting. In that interview with Andrew Neil,

having discussed the so-called English votes for English laws, he

then said that we may want a clearer and more fundamental solution. I

wonder what that means. They're all sorts of mechanisms that are being

looked at in the rules the House of Commons, where a law that affect

England only would to start with just be discussed by English MPs,

but when it finally became law, all MPs would get a vote. That is one of

the ideas. Why isn't it automatically done? Because the

Government, particularly if there were a Labour Government dependent

on Scottish votes, might find it had a majority when everybody was

involved but not when just England was involved. But what does he mean

by a more fundamental decision? We don't know. It either means an

English Parliament, which we are told the Prime Minister has

rejected. He doesn't think that is the right idea. Or it may mean some

arrangement where in Westminster MPs sit for two days as a UK Parliament

and two as an English Parliament. I doubt he means that. Or that means

much more fundamental devolution of power to regions and cities. The

current fashion in all three of the big UK parties is to give more

powers not just to the centre of cities but great cities, so in the

way that Boris Johnson and before him Ken Livingstone have had powers

in London. There is an argument that the 27 authorities around

Manchester, I think that is right, should share strategic decisions and

it may be that the parties can gravitate towards some solutions

involving the big cities, the Manchesters, Newcastles Bristols,

could have a directly elected Mayor to take many of the fundamental

decisions that are currently taken at the Department for Transport, the

Home Office and other larger departments.

If you are just joining us, we are discussing the

If you are just joining us, we are discussing the results of the

referendum. The front page of the Scotsman. And the times. We stayed

together, reflect in the jubilation of a better to get the team. If we

look at the Herald. Scotland says no, but changes UK for good. No to

independence but there is no question this verdict is the

catalyst for major change. We question this verdict is the

independence reference -- referendum across the morning.

I will be back later will. We are discussing the response, the

Prime Minister's response, Alec Salmond's response to the verdict of

the people of Scotland. If you are just joining the programme, 55% to

45% margin of people who rejected the question should Scotland be an

independent country. David Cameron has already outlined his response.

But quite a few questions around the mechanism he has announced for

addressing the needs of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Someone

with a keen eye on the English solution, if I can put it that way

is Nigel Farage, the leader of UKIP and he is with Andrew Neil.

Nigel Farage, the Prime Minister said there would be more devolution

for Scotland and that will go in tandem with more devolution for

England, Wales and Northern Ireland. What would you want four more

devolution for England? We can ask all 59 Scottish MPs, would you

please promise from today you will not debate vote in the House of

Commons on English devolved issues. Longer term, this question of

finding a new, constitutional settlement or the United Kingdom is

a big issue. He had said he will put William Hague interim charge -- in

charge of the committee. It is too important for that. We need a

constitutional convention to find out how a fair, federal United

Kingdom would work. If you had a constitutional settlement it would

interfere with the timetable the three Westminster party leaders have

given the devolution. It is a question of money as well. What

upset me, having led a lacklustre campaign, we saw the three party

leaders making financial promises and promising to maintain the

Barnett formula. The English taxpayer has been very patient and

quiet. We spent as a nation 1600 pounds more on every Scot than we do

on every English person. I think the Barnett formula should be debated

openly in the House of Commons. Let's get the country involved in

this. I don't think the taxpayer should be bound by a last-minute

promise by the Prime Minister. Do you think the Barnett formula should

be scrapped? Yes, and so does Joel Barnett, the man who came up with it

in 1979. I think England has had a rotten financial deal out of this.

There are revenues coming here and that balances the money back those

back out with the Barnett formula. It depends on the price of oil. But

if we had an open debate about this, perhaps people will find out more.

Right now the English feel put upon, they are confused and tired of

paying too many taxes and tired of Scottish MPs voting on English only

issues. We have heard a lot from Scotland but the tale cannot go on

wagging the dog any longer. England needs a proper voice. If we have an

English parliament and an English First Minister, where does that

leave the authority of the English Prime Minister? This is not easy and

that is why it needs a constitutional convention. I

understand you want to answer the West Lothian question, but what else

for England? A fair financial settlement and that means revisiting

the Barnett formula. And federal United Kingdom that recognises four

corners affectively, have their own version of home rule. Then the Scots

would have to wait for devolution they were promised in this

referendum? Nobody knows what the timetable will be yet. But what did

it mean? It means we will pay the same money to Scotland but we will

give you more powers. It was very vague. It is too important to be

sorted out in the next few weeks. There are some Tory MPs talking

about the need for an English parliament and sit with England only

matters, give more power to the Welsh, more power to Northern

Ireland. Would you go ahead with that? Absolutely, that was UKIP

policy. That has not changed. We must have English only MPs voting on

English issues. That can start today with the 59 Scottish MPs. Are you

thinking this could be the biggest source of votes for you and Europe?

I think our leaders are out of touch whether it is on Europe, immigration

and they are all factors why UKIP is doing well. Will you be speaking to

some Tory MPs who have been slithering and following the road of

Mr Carswell? If Douglas Carswell winds well on the 9th of October,

there will be other back bench MPs thinking they will do better with a

UKIP ticket. One of the reasons why Westminster has become so remote is

it is the modern version of a closed shop. Three parties who keep it all

to themselves and dumping anybody else has an important point to give

and that is why getting Douglas Carswell into the House of Commons

is very important. A lot of people have voted for the union having

absorbed this vow from the three Westminster party leaders, Labour,

Conservative and Lib Dem, that there would be substantial and speedy

devolution to Scotland. Gordon Brown even gave a timetable, which David

Cameron supports. They will feel treated if they get sidetracked into

a convention about English devolution? It may take a bit

longer, but whilst the promise is fine, what I am not prepared to

stand by our financial promises made on my behalf right David Cameron,

Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband, without consulting me. You have 2

by-elections coming up, one in the South and want in the north. I

assume you hope to do well in both. Does this now become an issue, the

matter of English devolution and English finances? Will this be an

issue for you in the by-elections? It will be an issue in both of the

by-elections. It is the question the English feel they have not had a

fair deal and a proper voice, I think is going up the agenda. Is

this a good day for you? It is a good day for the union because we

have stayed together. RU happy about that? I am very happy about that,

despite a pitiful campaign that was run until the last couple of weeks.

This issue that has been buried under the carpet, which has been not

respectable to talk about, has now been done. Now back to the studio.

We are listening here very carefully. Douglas Alexander is

here. Where do we start? There was a suggestion first of all, that the

pledge, isn't that watertight in Nigel Farage's eyes, it could be

adjusted, stretched or whatever? We have just defeated one independence

party in Scotland and it reinforces the need for people to continue to

defeat UKIP south of the border. He is not driving the agenda, the three

party leaders have agreed a tight but deliverable timetable which will

allow a Bill to be produced by January. Nothing I heard from Nigel

dissuaded me on the ability to deliver on the timetable. Is that

timetable not affect did where the Prime Minister talks about setting

up a Cabinet committee on English issues and hope to have proposals

ready to the timetable. Is that ambition going to wreck the Scottish

part of it, the delivery of more powers? Danny Alexander and the

Prime Minister have been clear, they will deliver on the timetable of the

Scotland Bill by 2015. But the reason we are able to set out that

table, a command paper is being produced within a month, is because

the three main parties have to put together fairly complimentary, but

substantial proposals. Those were published in the spring in Scotland

and we have also been able to look to the past history of people

working cooperatively to the type but deliverable timetable. The idea

William Hague will behead of a committee will be how we are

governed and whose interest we are governed, is inadequate. He does not

have the bricks and mortar to stop the process of that Golding. In

Scotland, the reason that vow could be given is because they can work on

specific proposals. The reason it is so crucial in this context, as Alec

Salmond make clear early on, there is an expectation in Scotland

following this very important democratic recess. There is an

expectation following this verdict this timetable is stuck to and it

delivers on As Harold Wilson used to say, this is not just a promise, it

is a pledge. I think the Scottish people would be extremely unhappy if

they did not deliver by March next year, because that is the promise

they have given, and they will be expected to deliver that. Lots of

people thinking of voting for independence at the last minute will

have changed their mind and voted no because of the promise, and it have

to be delivered by the three main parties. We have said we will

cooperate and go into the talks, because clearly, as I said earlier,

the substance of the talks as to be what powers will actually be

devolved. The issue for the committee is to try to prevent those

English Tory MPs who have said they would not vote for and would not

allow through the House of Commons the legislation on Scotland unless

there is some movement in terms of the West Lothian question in

relation to England. I think that is a fair point from their point of

view. If I were representing an English constituency in the House of

Commons, I would be wanting that as well. I think it is a perfectly fair

point of view but we must have an absolute guarantee that William

Hague's subcommittee in no way delays the implementation of the

vow. And let's not forget the way this will be conducted. All the

parties will be looking forward to the general election. This is not a

normal time in the parliamentary calendar. They are getting ready to

fight each other for seats in a general election that is coming up

quite quickly and only a couple of months after they said they would

deliver on the devolution pledges. In 35 years, the parties have not

been able to come together to answer the West Lothian question. It seems

fanciful to imagine they will do that in the six months leading up to

a general election. One quick point. John major has come up with a

solution that I think is the closest you will get to a solution. Given

DFO mats -- give the Scots devo max and reduce the number of MPs going

to Westminster. That will be in the mixture. That does not find favour

with me. It is a curious position to argue given the conscious choice

that Scottish people made last night to stay in the UK and to respond to

that would be to reduce representation in the UK. Let's hold

that thought for a second. It is just about 7:50am. If you have just

joined us, we are talking about the aftermath and the response to the

verdict of the voters of Scotland, who have voted to reject

independence in yesterday's referendum. We will pause the debate

for a second and join Carol for the weather, who is in Holyrood. Thank

you and good morning from Holyrood. It is a cloudy start to the day. If

we look at the view outside the Scottish Parliament, you can see

exactly what I mean. There is low cloud, murky and damp, with

drizzle. That is set to continue for some time yet. It is not just in

Scotland that we are looking at this particular view. We have it across

eastern England and as well as that we have showers around, scattered

showers. We have had heavy ones through the course of the night and

some of them have been thundery. We will carry on with that scenario

across parts of England and Wales as we go through the course of the day

but the showers will be very hit and miss and in between there will be

sunshine. Western Scotland faring best today and also the area around

the Moray Firth. The rest of Scotland cloudy and damp. We also

have sunshine through the course of the morning. Anywhere from East

Anglia and into the Midlands heading South is where we will see the heavy

and thundery downpours. Not all of us will catch them and in between we

are looking at bright spells and sunny intervals. Into the South West

as we go through the morning and into the afternoon we are not immune

to them as we have seen. For Wales, a mixture of thundery downpours

interspersed with brighter and sunnier skies. Moving into Northern

Ireland, a murky and cloudy start. The cloud will be thick enough at

times for the odd shower but equally it will brighten up. Through the

course of the day we hang on to a lot of cloud across many areas. In

the South we hang on to thundery showers with more developing along

the South coast as we head through the course of the afternoon.

Temperatures down on yesterday but a maximum of 24, fairly respectable

for this time of year. Into the evening and overnight we still have

thundery showers. Especially across England and Wales. We start on a

bright note tomorrow. The winds change direction to north-westerly.

We start with showers across England and Wales but through the course of

the day it will brighten up in the North. Temperatures down a touch on

today as well. Heading into Sunday after a chilly and bright start to

the day with some sunshine, through the day showers will develop and

then cloud comes into eastern areas. In summary, showers fade

through the weekend and the cloud breaks up and we will see some

sunshine as well. Back to you. A nice, positive note to end on. We

will see you later. I wonder if the financial markets have taken on

board what has happened. As the pound behaved in any way that we

should be noticing? Let's go to the City of London.

Simon? Thank you. The action so far overnight has been on the ? gains in

its value. -- has been on the pound with gains in its value. We have had

two year highs. A couple of weeks ago, the markets did not think it

was even a close run thing. This was the pound against the dollar, as

opinion polls got closer, the value of the pound fell and now it is on

its way back up. The stock market will open shortly, and we can expect

gains for RBS and Lloyds. There were questions over where they would be

domiciled in the event of a Yes vote. We can talk now to the

Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce. The business

lobby left this one late. What have you learned from this campaign? Of

course we represent businesses in Scotland and Wales and Northern

Ireland and England, so we were completely neutral. We know that

there will be many businesses that will be pleased with this result.

Clearly it was important for Scottish businesses, even more so

than in the rest of the UK. Any lasting damage in terms of

confidence to invest or have we seen this one off? I think we can go on

to great, sustainable growth in the economy if we do the right thing. It

is important that Alex Salmond should not imply that this is the

end of the matter because that will affect investment particularly in

Scotland. There is still some uncertainty about how devolution

will work. Also powers to the regions in the UK and some

uncertainty there. I speak to businesses all the time up and down

the country and there is no question that there is an appetite in the

English regions and London and the devolved administrations for more

spending and tax powers, for more control over local economic

development. Their desire for an extra layer of Government, but

politicians would love that. -- no desire. We should avoid that. And

also a desire for a resolution to the English question of Scottish MPs

voting on English matters. There has been some talk that a Yes vote would

have made a UK exit from the EU more likely. Is it a good thing for

business that that has been settled? Obviously it has not been settled,

because we have not had a referendum on it, it seems more likely. The

majority of businesses wants to remain in the single market but not

at any price, so actually they support the Prime Minister's

position on renegotiation. The real lesson from this is that our

politicians are not very good at high stakes poker said they will

have to sharpen up their act when it comes to negotiating with the EU. --

so they will have to. The stock market opened shortly and we can

expect gains on the pound, RBS and Lloyds.

Thank you. Douglas Alexander will be leaving us in a second. A final

thought from you after the events of the night? A momentous decision and

a momentous night. A great day for Scotland. I couldn't be more proud

of the decision that we have made to work for faster, safer and better

change. The choice was ours but the consequences will be felt in every

part of the UK. It is a great day not just for Scotland but the whole

of the United Kingdom. Certainly more questions to be answered but

thank you for very good morning. It is 8am on

Friday the 19th of September and we are reporting the result of the

Scottish referendum on independence. By a hefty margin, 55% to 45%, the

people of Scotland have decided to reject independence and stay with

the United Kingdom. There we have it on Pacific key in Glasgow, 1.5

million votes in favour of splitting. It is a very significant

number and 1.9 million deciding to stay with the union. The verdict is

clear. But the pattern of voting is interesting, it opens lots of

questions and the turnout at around 85, 80 6% is really matter to wonder

at. We have never seen anything like it in the modern era of politics. --

86%. It is an impressive performance all round and a great advert for

Scottish democracy. We will have much more reaction. The Chief

Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander has joined us. We will

have a few words from you in a moment, but we will catch up with

other events. David Cameron said he was delighted

the country voted to keep the four nations together. In an impressive

turnout, the No campaign won by 55% to 45%. Scotland's First Minister,

Alex Salmond has said he accepted defeat but calls on more powers for

Scotland. That is the word they are not used

to saying, this is the official Their mood was

in stark contrast to his. By the time he arrived in

Edinburgh, his brave face was back and he decided to accentuate the

positive. Thank you to Scotland for 1.6 million votes for Scottish

independent. Then he called on his supporters to accept defeat. I

accept the verdict of the people and I call on all of Scotland to follow

suit and accepting the Democratic verdict from the people of

Scotland. The leader of the Better Together campaign declared an ovoid

did not mean no change. As we celebrate, let's also listen, more

than 85% of the population has voted, people who were disengaged

from politics have turned out in large numbers. In Downing Street,

the Prime Minister promised more devolution for Scotland, England,

Wales and Northern Ireland. Now the debate has been saddled for a

generation. Or, as Alex Salmond has said, for a lifetime. -- settled.

There are no disputes, no reruns, we have heard the settled will of the

Scottish people. But Scottish MPs may have fewer rights at

Westminster. We have heard the voice of Scotland and now the millions of

voices of England must also be heard. The question of English votes

for English laws, the so-called West Lothian question, requires a

decisive answer. The first council to declare set the tone for the rest

of the night. No, 19,036. Central Scotland was the

first area to declare with the majority of voters say no. It

sounded the alarm of the Yes campaign and it was clear the

momentum was with their opponents. The results came thick and fast,

though mostly from small island councils from Orkney and Shetland.

The Yes campaign did get the consolation of winning in Glasgow,

Scotland's largest city. Yes, 194,000. No, 169,347. Turnout has

been high, 75% in Glasgow to more than 90% in sterling and there were

high spirits at the No campaign when they had the majority of voters had

decided to embrace the union and voted for Scotland to stay in the

UK. Nigel Farage, the leader of UKIP,

has called for a debate to decide how funding for the devolved nations

is decided. The English taxpayer has been patient and quiet to with

this. We spend as a nation, ?1600 more on every Scot and we do and

every English person. I think the Barnett formula should be debated in

the House of Commons, let's get the country involved in this. I don't

English taxpayers should be bound from a last-minute panic promised

from the Prime Minister. The appointments of Lord Smith of

Kelvin has been appointed to oversee more devolution. He was the chair of

the organising committee for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. David

Cameron says Scotland will be given more control over tax, spending and

welfare and draft legislation would be ready by January.

Politicians on both sides have praised the record turnout and 85%

of registered voters went to the ballot box. Thousands stayed up to

watch the results and others lined the streets waiting for the news.

George Square in Glasgow, so often at the heart of the Yes campaign,

defiance this morning in the face of mounting vote for maintaining the

union. As voting took place on Thursday there was a carnival

atmosphere, but as the results trickled through, the mood changed

to anger and disappointment. A fiercely fought campaign has reached

its end. The passion and intensity of the debate is being matched by