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| Scottish independence: Mass rallies mark referendum climax | Scottish independence: Mass rallies mark referendum climax |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Both sides in the Scottish referendum campaign have held rallies as they make their final efforts to win over undecided voters. | Both sides in the Scottish referendum campaign have held rallies as they make their final efforts to win over undecided voters. |
| Independence supporters attended a mass event in the centre of Glasgow, where they were urged to "vote 'Yes' for a prosperous Scotland". | Independence supporters attended a mass event in the centre of Glasgow, where they were urged to "vote 'Yes' for a prosperous Scotland". |
| At the same time, pro-UK campaigners gathered nearby to insist the case for independence had not been made. | At the same time, pro-UK campaigners gathered nearby to insist the case for independence had not been made. |
| The latest polls have suggested the result is too close to call. | The latest polls have suggested the result is too close to call. |
| Polls were released by Opinium for the Daily Telegraph, another by ICM for the Scotsman and a third by Survation for the Daily Mail on Tuesday evening. | Polls were released by Opinium for the Daily Telegraph, another by ICM for the Scotsman and a third by Survation for the Daily Mail on Tuesday evening. |
| With undecided voters excluded, they all suggested a lead for "No" of 52% to 48%. | With undecided voters excluded, they all suggested a lead for "No" of 52% to 48%. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| Speaking at the pro-independence rally, Yes Scotland chairman Dennis Canavan attacked the "back of a fag packet" pledge of further devolution made by the leaders of the three main Westminster parties. | Speaking at the pro-independence rally, Yes Scotland chairman Dennis Canavan attacked the "back of a fag packet" pledge of further devolution made by the leaders of the three main Westminster parties. |
| He told supporters: "A vow - it looks like something written on the back of a fag packet at the fag end of a long campaign. But the people of Scotland will not be fooled. | He told supporters: "A vow - it looks like something written on the back of a fag packet at the fag end of a long campaign. But the people of Scotland will not be fooled. |
| "There is only one guarantee of getting more powers for the Scottish Parliament and that is by voting Yes, so let's take that message out, let's take our message out to every street, every city, every town, every village. every community, every workplace, every home in Scotland." | "There is only one guarantee of getting more powers for the Scottish Parliament and that is by voting Yes, so let's take that message out, let's take our message out to every street, every city, every town, every village. every community, every workplace, every home in Scotland." |
| Meanwhile, Better Together head Alistair Darling urged anyone who had doubts about independence to vote "No". | Meanwhile, Better Together head Alistair Darling urged anyone who had doubts about independence to vote "No". |
| Addressing supporters alongside former Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a Love Scotland, Vote No rally, he said: "If you have such a momentous decision to take, you need to have certainty. | Addressing supporters alongside former Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a Love Scotland, Vote No rally, he said: "If you have such a momentous decision to take, you need to have certainty. |
| "What is very clear at the end of this long campaign, from the nationalist side there is no certainty at all. For anyone in Scotland who has any doubt, be in no doubt - you have to say 'No'." | "What is very clear at the end of this long campaign, from the nationalist side there is no certainty at all. For anyone in Scotland who has any doubt, be in no doubt - you have to say 'No'." |
| On the final day of campaigning, First Minister Alex Salmond published a letter to the people of Scotland in which he told them they will hold power in their hands as they vote to determine their country's future. | On the final day of campaigning, First Minister Alex Salmond published a letter to the people of Scotland in which he told them they will hold power in their hands as they vote to determine their country's future. |
| Highland view | |
| Steven McKenzie, BBC Scotland Highlands and Islands reporter | |
| On this last day of campaigning, mist and low cloud cloak the low hills near Inverness. | |
| The tops of Dunian and Craig Phadrig Dunain - no stranger to history being the site of an ancient vitrified fort and the place where a Pictish king was said to have been converted to Christianity - are obscured from view by the grey weather, but down below in the city centre colourful placards for "Yes" and "No Thanks" have been cable tied to almost every lamp-post and highly visible. | |
| The blue and white "Yes" signs have been up for weeks, but over the past few days increasing numbers of those supporting "No" have also been appearing. | |
| Up the hill from the High Street, the ruins of historic Viewhill House have become another frontline for the placard raisers. | |
| Destroyed in a fire almost exactly seven years to the day, this once grand property was the home of civil engineer Joseph Mitchell. | |
| In the 1800s, Mitchell worked with Thomas Telford on designing transport improvements in the Highlands, including the Caledonian Canal. | |
| Today, on a wire mesh security fence is bolted a blue "Yes" while a "No Thanks" sign has been placed on a nearby lamp-post. | |
| And from builders' scaffold around the ruins - which for a short-time last year was a perch for an escaped eagle owl before it was re-captured - a Saltire has been raised. | |
| Mr Salmond asked voters to step back from the political arguments and statistics that have defined the two-year campaign and trust in themselves as they go into the polling booth. | |
| Mr Salmond said: "The talking is nearly done. The campaigns will have had their say. What's left is just us - the people who live and work here. The only people with a vote. The people who matter. | Mr Salmond said: "The talking is nearly done. The campaigns will have had their say. What's left is just us - the people who live and work here. The only people with a vote. The people who matter. |
| "The people who for a few precious hours during polling day hold sovereignty, power, authority in their hands. It's the greatest most empowering moment any of us will ever have. Scotland's future - our country in our hands. | "The people who for a few precious hours during polling day hold sovereignty, power, authority in their hands. It's the greatest most empowering moment any of us will ever have. Scotland's future - our country in our hands. |
| "What to do? Only each of us knows that. For my part, I ask only this. Make this decision with a clear head and a clear conscience." | "What to do? Only each of us knows that. For my part, I ask only this. Make this decision with a clear head and a clear conscience." |
| The first minister told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the referendum campaign had been one of the most exhilarating in Western Europe, and said he was "assuming absolutely nothing" about the result. | The first minister told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the referendum campaign had been one of the most exhilarating in Western Europe, and said he was "assuming absolutely nothing" about the result. |
| Watching people queuing to register to vote had been a "humbling" sight, he added, and pledged to honour Clause 30 of the Edinburgh agreement by which both sides agreed to honour the result and work in the best interests of Scotland and the UK regardless of the outcome. | |
| Referring to Spain's apparent opposition to automatic Scottish entry to the EU, Mr Salmond said Scotland had 1% of the EU's population, but 20% of its fish stocks, 25% of its renewable energy and 60% of its oil resources. | Referring to Spain's apparent opposition to automatic Scottish entry to the EU, Mr Salmond said Scotland had 1% of the EU's population, but 20% of its fish stocks, 25% of its renewable energy and 60% of its oil resources. |
| He argued that anybody who believed the country would not be welcome in the EU did not understand that Europe "accepts democratic results" and that Scotland "has a huge amount to contribute". | He argued that anybody who believed the country would not be welcome in the EU did not understand that Europe "accepts democratic results" and that Scotland "has a huge amount to contribute". |
| Mr Darling told the Today programme that he thought there would be a "No" vote but even if there were not he would play his part in doing "the best I possibly can" for Scotland. | Mr Darling told the Today programme that he thought there would be a "No" vote but even if there were not he would play his part in doing "the best I possibly can" for Scotland. |
| "I'm not going. This is my country. I'm staying," said Mr Darling. But he said that did not mean he would sign up to the "nonsense" in the Scottish government's White Paper and insisted that "Alex Salmond is not Team Scotland". | "I'm not going. This is my country. I'm staying," said Mr Darling. But he said that did not mean he would sign up to the "nonsense" in the Scottish government's White Paper and insisted that "Alex Salmond is not Team Scotland". |
| Mr Darling also warned that, whichever way the vote went, there would be hard work healing divisions in Scottish society which had emerged during the campaign. | Mr Darling also warned that, whichever way the vote went, there would be hard work healing divisions in Scottish society which had emerged during the campaign. |
| He cited some internet comments and Sunday's demonstration at the BBC in Glasgow, which he said some people found "frightening". | He cited some internet comments and Sunday's demonstration at the BBC in Glasgow, which he said some people found "frightening". |
| "We all have to say we live in a democratic country; there are some people who have stepped over the line... but we've got to calm things down because we've got to live together." | "We all have to say we live in a democratic country; there are some people who have stepped over the line... but we've got to calm things down because we've got to live together." |
| Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont and leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson had been out campaigning overnight. | Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont and leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson had been out campaigning overnight. |
| Ms Lamont, along with her deputy Anas Sarwar, met print workers on the night-shift at Trinity Mirror Print Works. The politicians promised "better, faster, safer change" with a "No" vote. | Ms Lamont, along with her deputy Anas Sarwar, met print workers on the night-shift at Trinity Mirror Print Works. The politicians promised "better, faster, safer change" with a "No" vote. |