Carmarthenshire council leader Kevin Madge has welcomed this morning’s Scottish referendum result and called for the decision to be used as a springboard to transform the political landscape of Wales and the rest of the UK.

Speaking just hours after the formal declaration that the No to Independence campaign had claimed 55.3 percent of the vote - 2,001,926 compared to 1,617,989, Councillor Madge urged all political parties across the UK to work together to build a better, stronger Britain.

“I am delighted by the result,” he said.

“I am a proud Welshman first and foremost, but I have always believed in the union of the United Kingdom.

“I am proud to be Welsh, but I am also proud to be British.”

“The nations of the United Kingdom are better together; we are stronger together.”

However, Cllr Madge said that the referendum had offered a unique opportunity for a reassessment of the relationship between the home nations and a rewriting of the much-maligned Barnett Formula – the mechanism by which the UK Treasury distributes public service spending across the regions.

The Barnett Formula has been much criticised on this side of the Severn Bridge, where experts agree an additional £300million should be allocated each year to bring spending in Wales in line with that of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“We now need to see what can be done moving forward to improve the lives of people in Wales as well as Scotland and elsewhere,” said Cllr Madge.

“The Barnett Formula needs to be totally rewritten, It needs a complete review and for Wales to be given an equal share of public serves spending - £300m would make a massive difference to services available to the people of Wales.

“The question of independence has now been answered and all parties need to put it to one side and work together to create a better UK for all.

“Independence has been put to rest but we need to work towards far greater devolution – not just to Assembly level but also to devolve greater powers to local government so that we can do far more at a local level.”

He said the interest generated by the referendum showed that people would engage with politics if they felt their voices would be heard.

“The referendum in Scotland has been a triumph for democracy,” he said.

“In my 40 years as a politician I have never seen a turn-out like it. It proves that people are interested and it is an example of democracy in action.

“I feel that the decision to give 16 and 17-year-olds is a landmark decision and cannot now be reversed. We need to look to give youngsters the vote across the country.”

Cllr Madge now expects the focus to turn on elected representatives to see how they respond.

“The turnout in Scotland has been truly remarkable and I hope the rest of the country follows suit.

“The people want better services and we all need to work together, whatever our party, to achieve that,” said Cllr Madge.

“The people want us to make this country better and it is up to us to deliver.”