<sod >One senior government source said: âA Yes vote in the referendum would be the start of a process, not the end of one.< eod>< sod > One senior government source said: "A Yes vote in the referendum would be the start of a process, not the end of one. We would start negotiations. But if Alex Salmond made impossible demands, we would not just roll over and agree to everything he wanted. If we could not reach agreement, the status quo would be the default option." The source added: "It would not be a question of defying the wishes of the Scottish people. As the UK Government, we would have a duty to represent the interests of the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland." He described as "totally unrealistic" the Scottish Government's 18-month timetable for completing the negotiations.< eod>