Western Isles votes No 19/9/14
The people of the Western Isles have voted No in the Scottish independence referendum.
Some 10,544 of islanders opted to stay in the UK while 9,195 sought an independent Scotland.
The outcome was a 53.4%-
Turnout was 86.22% with a total of 19,758 people voting.
Alistair Morrison, chairman of Better Together Lewis and Harris said: “We always knew our calm and respectful engagement with the people of the Western Isles was bearing fruit.
“We set out a prospectus that was credible and was well received by the people islands.”
He added: “The silent majority spoke with remarkable clarity and have given us this incredible margin that no pundit expected.
“Unfortunately our islands have been on pause for the past number of years as our MSP and MP have used their parliamentary offices not to benefit the islands constituents but to promote their project of separation. This is a disgrace.
“They must now immediately focus on our islands, put constitutional practices behind them and actually work on our behalf.”
Alasdair Allan, Isles MSP and YES Scotland campaigner said: “Obviously I think it’s fair to say I’m disappointed. Many many people in the islands and indeed Scotland have worked hard for a very long time for this day.
“I think we ran a positive campaign and engaged many people and that’s a healthy thing for Scotland.
“It’s proved there’s an appetite for real power in Scotland which can’t be put away.”