SCOTLAND will remain in the United Kingdom after voters rejected independence in last night’s historic referendum.

After a long and hard-fought campaign, the two sides had gone into the crunch ballot almost neck and neck in the polls.

But in the end they were separated by a clear cut margin of 55 per cent to 45 per cent with Yes Scotland not able to make the inroads they needed, despite winning in Glasgow, the country’s largest city.

It was confirmed that the No campaign had won just after 6am, with the declaration in Fife proving to be the decisive moment.

The No side gathered 2,001,926, votes while 1,617,989 people voted Yes.

In the wake of this morning’s result, First Minister Alex Salmond spoke to his supporters and he urged the unionist parties to make good on their recent ‘vow’ to deliver on more powers for the Scottish Parliament.

A relieved UK Prime Minister David Cameron addressed the nation from Downing Street shortly afterwards and told of his delight that the United Kingdom would be staying together.

Mr Cameron says that the Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems at Westminster will now follow through with their promise to deliver more decision-making to Holyrood.

He said: “We will ensure that those commitments are honoured in full.” The Prime Minister announced that Lord Smith of Kelvin, who led Glasgow’s recent staging of the Commonwealth Games, will be in charge of the process.

Locally, Inverclyde voted against independence by the narrowest of margins.