Scotland says ‘no thanks’ to independence

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• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Well, the votes are in and the no's have it. Polls had flip-flopped in recent weeks, but in the end, Scotland's residents decided to stay in their 307-year-old union with the United Kingdom.

  A dreary mist shrouded the Scottish capital of Edinburgh this morning, matching the moods of 1.6 million people who'd voted for independence, only to see it lose.

  CHERYL BURGAR, Yes Scotland supporter: It shows that still there are a lot of people in Scotland that didn't want that. It's not like — it's not a landslide vote. So we think that's a good thing overall, even if it is still no, because it's going to show that we're not — we're not all happy with the way things are.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  The official announcement came in the early morning hours.

• MARY PITCAITHLY, Chief Consulting Officer, Scotland:

  The majority of valid votes cast yesterday by the people of Scotland in response to the referendum question, should Scotland be an independent country, were in favor of no.

  (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  From the no campaign headquarters, the cheer was deafening.

• MAN:

  I'm happy that in the morning I'm going to wake up Scottish and I'm going to wake up British. I'm just so happy.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  The leader of the no side, Alistair Darling, was triumphant.

  ALISTAIR DARLING, Leader, Better Together campaign: The people of Scotland have spoken.

  (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

• ALISTAIR DARLING:

  We have chosen unity over division and positive change, rather than needless separation.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  The breakdown showed 55 percent voted to stay with the United Kingdom, while 45 percent voted to leave. And the unprecedented turnout topped 85 percent. Despite his disappointment, despite his disappointment, yes campaign leader Alex Salmond said the turnout was a huge point of pride.

  ALEX SALMOND, First Minister of Scotland: This has been a triumph for the democratic process and for participation in politics.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Salmond has been at the forefront of Scotland's pro-independence movement for decades, but, today, he announced he's resigning as Scottish first minister.

• ALEX SALMOND:

  We lost the referendum vote, but Scotland can still carry the political initiative. Scotland can still emerge as the real winner. For me as leader, my time is nearly over. But for Scotland, the campaign continues and the dream shall never die.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  In London, with the threat of separation past, Prime Minister David Cameron renewed his promise to begin granting Scotland more powers.

• DAVID CAMERON, Prime Minister, United Kingdom:

  We have delivered on devolution under this government, and we will do so again in the next Parliament. The three main pro-union parties have made commitments, clear commitments on further powers for the Scottish Parliament. We will ensure that those commitments are honored in full.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Even so, there were complaints from some in Cameron's own Conservative Party ranks that the promises are too generous. And Queen Elizabeth issued her own statement, speaking of her enduring love of Scotland and urging the entire nation to work together in mutual respect and support.