Europe relieved at Scotland No result

The whole European project is relieved because this was threatening to turn into a huge boost for separatist movements in many countries in Europe.

In Catalonia, in Barcelona they are passing a law today authorising "a popular consultation" - a referendum in all but name - on their own independence. The timing is not an accident

This is a referendum that Madrid has promised to block. They are not accepting what David Cameron said today - that it was right to hold a referendum and get the issue out of the way.

So Madrid will be relieved that the Catalans have not been given a great deal more momentum by a Scottish Yes.

There are similar issues in Belgium with Flemish nationalists, while in Italy the north has been making some serious noises about splitting off from the south .

In Brussels they will also be wondering what impact this will have on a referendum on Britain staying in - or out of - the EU. Because political leaders in London will have realised that making an economic case for staying together was a struggle in Scotland - and that was with 300 years of union.