THE campaign for Scottish independence was much more than any old election campaign.

It was the most extraordinary, exciting and engaging political debate this country has ever seen.

We saw turnout levels of 85% across Scotland, with many people voting for the first time.

A memorable part of the campaign for me was the push to get people across Glasgow registered to vote so they could have their say on Scotland's future.

And one of the outstanding successes of the campaign was the engagement of young people in particular.

Those who dismissed the idea of people aged 16 and 17 voting as ludicrous have quite rightly been eating a big slice of humble pie.

The debates I took part in with young people were the most engaging, the most informed and the most passionate of them all.

They are a credit to their nation.

The First Minister has called on the Westminster parties to legislate for people aged 16 and 17 to vote in all future elections.

Our young people are now part of what must be the most politically engaged population in Western Europe and their voices should continue to be heard.

Whatever your views on independence, this referendum has brought us credit both nationally and internationally.

I was obviously as disappointed with the result as all of the other 1.6 million people who voted Yes on Thursday, but I was delighted that a majority of people in my home city of Glasgow voted for independence.

In the areas I focused my campaigning on as local MSP - Glasgow Pollok and Glasgow Provan - there were fantastic results which is down to the fantastic campaign run by local activists.

Glasgow Pollok, the constituency of Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, voted 54 per cent in favour of Yes, and Glasgow Provan, the constituency of Labour chief whip Paul Martin, voted 57 per cent in favour of Yes.

These are firm foundations for us to build on in the future.

But we of course respect the result last Thursday.

The SNP's immediate priority will be to secure further powers that will make a real difference to people's lives.

THE No campaign parties promised extensive new powers during the campaign, coming close to a federal system.

The Scottish Government will do everything we can to hold Cameron, Clegg and Miliband to this promise, and we will work with the other parties in the Scottish Parliament to deliver more powers.

The biggest legacy we have from the referendum is the political awakening in Scotland. Given the promises made, people rightly, have high expectations of what is to be delivered.

They can't be let down.