A video of a female vote counter appearing to place Yes votes in the No pile at a polling station has led to allegations by Scottish nationalists that the independence referendum was rigged.

Supporters of Scottish independence on social media – dubbed ‘Cybernats’ – have claimed that the video, taken at a Dundee polling station, and an image of a Clackmannanshire counting table show evidence that there was foul play in the election process.

Rigged. Fixed. Bribes and power. Brace yourself Scotland. We're going to be raped for years to come. — Euan Reid (@johnlennon___) September 19, 2014

willing to put a bet on that #Westminster has rigged the election. #indyref — KING KHALID (@khalidhussaindj) September 19, 2014

we all wasted our time to vote for it to get rigged!! was going to be a no from the start. — WeArePurple4 (@Sean_A_McBride) September 19, 2014

However, one conspiracy theory relating to an image of several ‘Yes’ ballot papers on a table of ‘No’ votes was quickly dismissed by vote counters while exasperated commentators told No voters to ‘get a grip’, with one remarking ‘this is Scotland, not Sudan.’

To clarify, ballot papers have not yet been sorted into Yes/No and are just resting on table where No will go once sorted. No need to worry. — Yes Dundee (@YesDundee) September 18, 2014

all the 'yes' voters are sulking so have brought out the "fixed" card. urm no, the majority of scotland have common sense. #realitycheck — madison (@howesx) September 19, 2014

If you think that one of the world's oldest democracy's, the UK, has rigged this referendum you need to get a grip. #indyref — Robbie Callander (@RobbieCallander) September 19, 2014

The backlash from nationalists in the wake of the No vote is hardly surprising given the increasing hostilities in the run-up to the referendum.




News of voters being threatened, reporters needing security and politicians receiving death threats has marred the campaigns in the last week.

Officials at the referendum count in Glasgow are investigating 10 cases of suspected electoral fraud relating to possible cases of impersonation, where people pretend to be another person who hadn’t voted yet.

‘I think that’s a daft thing to do,’ said SNP Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie.

‘The ballot papers have been identified, they will be taken away and fingerprinted, the police will do their job and I’m sure whoever has done it will be caught and sentenced.’