Supporters of Scottish independence reacted with bitter disappointment on Friday as their hopes of breaking away from Britain were dashed, with some breaking down in tears in the streets of Edinburgh.
Many had stayed up all night in the hope of a new dawn for their nation but instead had to accept defeat on a grey, rainy morning in Scotland's capital.
"My feeling was just crushing, quite devastating," said 16-year-old Charlotte Darroch, who was at Edinburgh's main counting centre wearing her school uniform, her tie pinned with "Yes" badges and a Scottish flag wrapped around her shoulders.
"We all felt it was going to go the other way. I genuinely thought the feeling on the ground was different. I don't think people realised quite how important this was," she added.
One of thousands of under 18s given the vote for the first time ever in Britain, Darroch pledged not to give up hope after 1.6 million people, more than a third of the electorate, voted for independence.
"This isn't the end of the 'Yes' campaign," she said.
Outside the Scottish Parliament, "Yes" voters Paddy Burns and Rikki Maclean were walking home after spending all night at a friend's house watching the results.
"They (the 'No' voters) have said we're not up to the task of governing ourselves and that kills me," said Burns, a 23-year-old barman.
"All we have to do is pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and keep making our voices heard until we get self-determination."
Maclean added it was now vital for Prime Minister David Cameron to deliver on his promise to devolve more power back to the Scottish people.
"I think it's going to be really difficult and there's going to be a lot of people clanging their heads together", the 32-year-old theatre manager said.
"If these powers aren't given, that will spark an even bigger upswelling of people."
Near Edinburgh Castle, some tartan-wearing activists surrounded by "Yes" slogans cried in the rain at the end of an all-night party as the result became clear.
Iain, a 21-year-old student, said: "I am incredibly disappointed."
Independence had been "so close," he said, adding: "For the last six months, we had hopes for a better life."
- 'Divisive' referendum -
The "No" camp's victory by a surprisingly large margin was devastating for many "Yes" supporters but those in favour of staying in Britain welcomed the result with relief.
At a party organised by the Better Together campaign in Glasgow, activists cheered, hugged, danced and cried as it became clear they had won.
The response among many ordinary people who voted "No" was more muted, though.
David Drysdale, 55, said he was "happy" with the result but "somewhat upset that we're going to have pushing two million people not getting what they wanted."
Speaking on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, he voiced concern that the result could sow divisions in Scottish society.
"Hopefully not riots in the streets, so far so good on that. If Westminster comes through on some of its promises, hopefully it will be OK," he added.
Back at the count centre, "No" supporter Louise Fleming, 21, said she was "relieved" and planned to head off for a fried breakfast before going to bed.
"I've been up for over 24 hours," she said. "It's been such a divisive referendum... we can't expect everything to be great tomorrow but the right outcome has occurred."
Supporters of Scottish independence reacted with bitter disappointment on Friday as their hopes of breaking away from Britain were dashed, with some breaking down in tears in the streets of Edinburgh.
Many had stayed up all night in the hope of a new dawn for their nation but instead had to accept defeat on a grey, rainy morning in Scotland’s capital.
“My feeling was just crushing, quite devastating,” said 16-year-old Charlotte Darroch, who was at Edinburgh’s main counting centre wearing her school uniform, her tie pinned with “Yes” badges and a Scottish flag wrapped around her shoulders.
“We all felt it was going to go the other way. I genuinely thought the feeling on the ground was different. I don’t think people realised quite how important this was,” she added.
One of thousands of under 18s given the vote for the first time ever in Britain, Darroch pledged not to give up hope after 1.6 million people, more than a third of the electorate, voted for independence.
“This isn’t the end of the ‘Yes’ campaign,” she said.
Outside the Scottish Parliament, “Yes” voters Paddy Burns and Rikki Maclean were walking home after spending all night at a friend’s house watching the results.
“They (the ‘No’ voters) have said we’re not up to the task of governing ourselves and that kills me,” said Burns, a 23-year-old barman.
“All we have to do is pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and keep making our voices heard until we get self-determination.”
Maclean added it was now vital for Prime Minister David Cameron to deliver on his promise to devolve more power back to the Scottish people.
“I think it’s going to be really difficult and there’s going to be a lot of people clanging their heads together”, the 32-year-old theatre manager said.
“If these powers aren’t given, that will spark an even bigger upswelling of people.”
Near Edinburgh Castle, some tartan-wearing activists surrounded by “Yes” slogans cried in the rain at the end of an all-night party as the result became clear.
Iain, a 21-year-old student, said: “I am incredibly disappointed.”
Independence had been “so close,” he said, adding: “For the last six months, we had hopes for a better life.”
– ‘Divisive’ referendum –
The “No” camp’s victory by a surprisingly large margin was devastating for many “Yes” supporters but those in favour of staying in Britain welcomed the result with relief.
At a party organised by the Better Together campaign in Glasgow, activists cheered, hugged, danced and cried as it became clear they had won.
The response among many ordinary people who voted “No” was more muted, though.
David Drysdale, 55, said he was “happy” with the result but “somewhat upset that we’re going to have pushing two million people not getting what they wanted.”
Speaking on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, he voiced concern that the result could sow divisions in Scottish society.
“Hopefully not riots in the streets, so far so good on that. If Westminster comes through on some of its promises, hopefully it will be OK,” he added.
Back at the count centre, “No” supporter Louise Fleming, 21, said she was “relieved” and planned to head off for a fried breakfast before going to bed.
“I’ve been up for over 24 hours,” she said. “It’s been such a divisive referendum… we can’t expect everything to be great tomorrow but the right outcome has occurred.”
