Five defining independence referendum moments 10 years on from historic vote
Today marks 10 years since the Scottish independence referendum was held. Nearly 85 per cent of Scots - the highest share in over a century - turned out in what was dubbed a "once in a generation" vote.
The No campaign won with 55.3 per cent, while the Yes campaign took 44.7 per cent. But the SNP had years of electoral success afterwards, winning every vote until the general election a couple of months ago.
The 2014 independence referendum was perhaps the most important vote in Scotland's recent history. Here are the five key moments from the campaign.
READ MORE: Commonwealth Games will return to Glasgow in 2026 after deal agreed by Scottish Government
Scottish Government releases white paper
In November 2013 the Scottish Government launched its white paper called ‘Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland’.
The 670-page document set out the government’s vision of how Scotland would become an independent country and the policies it would pursue if the country decided to leave the UK.
The key points were a new written constitution which would have kept the Queen as head of state, keeping the pound and the removal of Trident nuclear weapons from Scotland.
It also laid out plans for a Scottish army, broadcasting service and passport. The paper was welcomed by independence campaigners but dismissed by those on the pro-union side.
George Osborne deals nationalists a blow on currency
Currency was one of the key issues of the independence debate, and the key moment came in February 2014 when George Osborne made a speech in Edinburgh.
The Tory chancellor said an independent Scotland would not be able to use the pound and that there would be no currency union if Scotland left the UK. He was backed by Labour and the Lib Dems.
The announcement was a hammer blow for the SNP as they had argued that keeping the pound and continuing to use the Bank of England made sense after independence. Alex Salmond then accused the Westminster parties of trying to “bully” voters ahead of the referendum.
Alistair Darling beats Alex Salmond in first television debate
Former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling - who was chair of the Better Together campaign - took on first minister Alex Salmond in a live televised debate in August 2014. The pair went head-to-head in a two-hour-long STV programme broadcast in Glasgow.
Polling before the debate suggested that most voters saw Salmond as the favourite, but a snap survey afterwards suggested Darling had won.
Darling pushed the former SNP leader on which currency Scotland would use if it was not allowed to use the pound. Salmond was unable to say what his back up was and just repeated that Scotland would use the pound.
Sunday Times poll gives Yes the lead
The No campaign had held a steady lead throughout the referendum campaign, consistently polling ahead of the Yes vote. The polls tightened after the Scottish Government’s white paper and George Osborne ruling out a currency union.
But in early September, just weeks before the referendum, the polls suggested the vote would be closer than had been thought. A Sunday Times poll released on September 7 put the Yes campaign ahead for the first time, with 51 per cent backing independence.
Darling said this was “a wake up call” while Nicola Sturgeon said it showed “Yes has the big momentum”.
Westminster leaders sign The Vow
Just two days before voters went to the polls, and days after the Sunday Times poll, Westminster’s main party leaders set aside their differences and signed a promise that a No vote would mean a stronger Scottish Parliament and total protection for the NHS.
David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg signed up to the historic joint statement - called The Vow - which was demanded by the Daily Record on behalf of the people of Scotland. The deal was brokered by former Labour PM Gordon Brown.
This resulted in the Smith Commission, which recommended Holyrood has powers over a number of areas including income tax, borrowing, some benefits and extending the vote to 16-and-17-year-olds.
The Scotland Act 2016 - which was based on the recommendations - became law 18 months after the referendum.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here