Alex Salmond to stand down as First Minister
Scotland votes No to independence
David Cameron says vote "settles will of the Scottish people"
Lord Smith of Kelvin to oversee further devolution
Voters answered: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General
I fully respect the choice that the people of Scotland have made, external in yesterday's referendum.
I welcome Prime Minister Cameron's statement that the United Kingdom will go forward as a united country.
The United Kingdom is a founding member of NATO, and I am confident that the United Kingdom will continue to play a leading role to keep our Alliance strong.
Sadiq Khan MP tweets, external: Most important vote in generation saw 1000s of 16 & 17 year olds vote in #indyref How can we deny them vote in General Election?
Iain Macwhirter, political commentator Herald & Sunday Heraldtweets, external: Scots thought this was about their future - turns out it was all about setting up an English parliament.
Duncan Mavin, Europe Finance Editor, Wall Street Journal, tweets, external: #indyref raised big questions about UK governance. For investors, politics likely to remain messy and unpredictable.
John Rentoul, Independent on Sunday columnist tweets, external: Opinion polls underestimated No vote by 2 or 3 points. How much will shy Tories be worth in general election next year?
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has just released a statement, external. He says: "I hope all parties will now accept this vote was fair, legal and decisive and we have settled the question in a way which means we will not keep coming back to it.
Image source, PA"The decisive choice of people in Scotland to remain part of the UK is the beginning of a new, stronger country for us all.
"It comes at the end of a hard-fought two year process which has raised important issues for Scotland and engaged a huge number of people in the debate.
"We will continue that process by working together as one country, across the whole political spectrum, making life better for the people who live and work here.
"It's also clear that the people of Scotland have overwhelmingly voted for a stronger Scottish Parliament within the United Kingdom based on the cross-part plan for more powers. That work will begin today and we will deliver it for everyone."
James Landale
Deputy political editor
The Downing Street constitutional declaration - as it will become known - marks the start of what potentially could be massive constitutional change.
In particular, the prime minister has promised to give English MPs a greater say over legislation that affects England. He made clear this would cover the same issues over which Scotland will have greater control - tax, spending and welfare. And the changes will be agreed at the same pace with draft legislation by January.
But David Cameron did not spell out the detail, leaving a policy vacuum that will now be filled by Conservative MPs and an army of constitutional experts and think tanks. Everything from a full English parliament to complicated plans for English grand committees will be discussed.
The risk for the PM is that he loses control of this debate.
John Curtice
Professor of politics at Strathclyde University
Total number of votes cast:
Yes - 1,617,989
No - 2,001,926
3,429 rejected papers - want of an official mark 16, voting in favour of both 691, voter identified 168, unmarked or void for uncertainty 2,554.
This means that Yes won 45% of the vote and No 55% of the vote exactly in line with the BBC prediction at just after 05:00.
There have been nearly 130,000 tweets about the Referendum between 8am and 9am this morning. That's a dip of 22% on the previous hour.
One of the most shared tweets, external in the past hour has come from comedian Frankie Boyle: "To be fair, I've always hated Scotland" retweeted nearly 3,000 times.
A transcript of David Cameron's speech is amongst the more shared photos.
You can join the conversation via #indyref, external, tweet @BBCPolitics, external or go to the BBC News page on Facebook, external.
Gerry Holt
BBC News
BBC One's results programme has just ended - but stay with us for continuing coverage and all the latest reaction.
A reminder now of the dramatic events of the last 24 hours:
Image source, AFP/getty imagesScotland has voted to stay in the United Kingdom
55% of voters said No to independence, while 45% said Yes
Turnout was nearly 84.5%
The final result was announced in Edinburgh in the last hour by Scotland's Chief Counting Officer Mary Pitcaithly
Labour MP Douglas Alexander: "A momentous decision, a momentous night and, I think, a great, great, day for Scotland.
Image source, Getty Images"I couldn't be more proud of the decision that we have made to work for faster, safer and better change than the risks of separation. The choice was ours but the consequences are going to be felt in every part of the United Kingdom."
fleetstreetfox, Daily Mirror columnist tweets, external: Well thank goodness for that. Thank you, Scotland.
Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds, the Respect MP and No campaigner George Galloway says: "It was a very tough fight, we were reminded all over again just how hated the Westminster political class is."
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has just posted letters from Westminster to all 59 Scottish MPs asking them not to vote on English issues...
Mr Farage tweets, external: We need a full, proper national debate about the democratic future of England #indyref
Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow tweets, external: Final 45% YES 55% NO: I'm pretty sure that for all the cash they make, not one polling outfit got the margin right.
Visit our Results Page for a full graphic break down of the independence referendum.
#BBCtrending looks at how the Scottish independence referendum played out on Twitter last night.
Image source, @joannaukShares in London have opened with sharp gains. The FTSE 100 is 0.6% higher in early trading. Royal Bank of Scotland shares are up 4%, Lloyds Banking Group, which owns Bank of Scotland, is up 2.6% and energy firm SSE is up 2%.
Kamal Ahmed
BBC Business editor
Kamal Ahmed, BBC Business editor, tweets, external: Lloyds Bank statement on Scotland more equivocal than RBS. Keeping options open on legal domicile #indyref.
Mary Pitcaithly, confirming the result, says there were 3,429 rejected papers and the reasons for rejection were:
Want of an official mark - 16
Voter in favour of both answers - 691
Writing a mark by which the voter could be identified: 168
Unmarked or void for uncertainty: 2,554
Tom Bradby, Political Editor, ITV News tweets:, external I think history is going to be pretty kind to Gordon Brown, a man who can credibly claim to have saved the financial system and the Union.