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Alex Salmond resigns as first minister after Scotland rejects independence Alex Salmond resigns as first minister after Scotland rejects independence
(about 1 hour later)
Alex Salmond has said he will stand down as Scotland's first minister and Scottish National party leader after failing to secure a majority for independence in Thursday's referendum.Alex Salmond has said he will stand down as Scotland's first minister and Scottish National party leader after failing to secure a majority for independence in Thursday's referendum.
He told a press conference in his official residence of Bute House that he would stand down as first minister in November when a new SNP leader will be chosen.He told a press conference in his official residence of Bute House that he would stand down as first minister in November when a new SNP leader will be chosen.
Salmond said he had made the decision in the morning after the referendum result emerged: "For me right now there is a decision as to who is best placed to lead this process forward politically.Salmond said he had made the decision in the morning after the referendum result emerged: "For me right now there is a decision as to who is best placed to lead this process forward politically.
"I believe that in this new exciting situation, redolent with possibility, party, parliament and country would benefit from new leadership.""I believe that in this new exciting situation, redolent with possibility, party, parliament and country would benefit from new leadership."
He said he would not accept the SNP's nomination to be a candidate for leader at the party's annual conference in Perth in November, allowing a new party leader to be elected.He said he would not accept the SNP's nomination to be a candidate for leader at the party's annual conference in Perth in November, allowing a new party leader to be elected.
Given the SNP's majority in the Scottish parliament, the new leader will also become first minister.Given the SNP's majority in the Scottish parliament, the new leader will also become first minister.
Despite defeat in the referendum, his decision is a surprise: Salmond had repeatedly stated before the vote that he planned to stay on until after the 2016 Scottish election.Despite defeat in the referendum, his decision is a surprise: Salmond had repeatedly stated before the vote that he planned to stay on until after the 2016 Scottish election.
Salmond is likely to be succeeded by his deputy Nicola Sturgeon, who has become a commanding figure in the independence campaign after being appointed by Salmond to lead the referendum process.Salmond is likely to be succeeded by his deputy Nicola Sturgeon, who has become a commanding figure in the independence campaign after being appointed by Salmond to lead the referendum process.
Speaking minutes after Salmond's announcement, Sturgeon said that she could think of "no greater privilege" than to succeed Salmond as SNP leader and first minister, but that the decision "is not for today".Speaking minutes after Salmond's announcement, Sturgeon said that she could think of "no greater privilege" than to succeed Salmond as SNP leader and first minister, but that the decision "is not for today".
She added: "My priority this weekend, after a long and hard campaign, is to get some rest and spend time with my family. I also want the focus over the next few days to be on the outstanding record and achievements of the finest first minister Scotland has had."She added: "My priority this weekend, after a long and hard campaign, is to get some rest and spend time with my family. I also want the focus over the next few days to be on the outstanding record and achievements of the finest first minister Scotland has had."
Salmond said the most important thing to the independence cause was not about who is first minister of Scotland.Salmond said the most important thing to the independence cause was not about who is first minister of Scotland.
This is the second time Salmond has dramatically resigned: he stood down from his first stint as Scottish National party leader in September 2000, only a year after the newly established Scottish parliament was founded in Edinburgh.This is the second time Salmond has dramatically resigned: he stood down from his first stint as Scottish National party leader in September 2000, only a year after the newly established Scottish parliament was founded in Edinburgh.
Aged 59, Salmond has now led the SNP for two spells of ten years; the first of which began in 1990. He said: "I think that's a reasonable spell of service and I think there is an aspect that you have to understand and recognise when it is time to give someone else a chance to move that forward."Aged 59, Salmond has now led the SNP for two spells of ten years; the first of which began in 1990. He said: "I think that's a reasonable spell of service and I think there is an aspect that you have to understand and recognise when it is time to give someone else a chance to move that forward."
Thursday's Scottish independence referendum saw the no campaign fronted by Alistair Darling win 55.3% of the vote, compared to 44.7% for yes. But the proportion represented a high water mark for the independence movement and the Scottish National party.Thursday's Scottish independence referendum saw the no campaign fronted by Alistair Darling win 55.3% of the vote, compared to 44.7% for yes. But the proportion represented a high water mark for the independence movement and the Scottish National party.
Earlier, David Cameron, the British prime minister, declared a "clear result" in the referendum and promised a devolution revolution across Great Britain, including votes on English issues by English MPs at Westminster.
"There can be no disputes, no reruns – we have heard the settled will of the Scottish people," Cameron said in a statement outside No 10 Downing Street shortly after 7am on Friday.
The yes campaign scored four big successes, winning 53% of the vote in Scotland's largest city, Glasgow, 54% in West Dunbartonshire, 57% in Dundee and 51% in North Lanarkshire.
However, the no camp was victorious in 28 authorities. It won overwhelmingly in areas where it was expected to do well, including Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire and Borders, but also in areas that could have gone to the yes campaign, including Falkirk, Inverclyde, Eilean Siar and Clackmannanshire.
In the final count, the no camp clocked up 2,001,926 votes to 1,617,989 for yes.
In his speech, Cameron made clear that the constitutional reforms, including in Scotland, would not be delivered until after the general election, and that Scottish measures would proceed in tandem with changes in England. "We have heard the voice of Scotland and now the millions of voices of England must be heard," he said.
Cameron threw down a challenge to the Labour opposition to say whether it would agree to the introduction of English votes for English MPs, and announced that William Hague, leader of the House of Commons, would advance the issue in a special cabinet committee.
The prime minister, vindicated in his decision to stage a yes/no referendum, also revealed he had asked Lord Smith of Kelvin to implement the Scottish devolution reforms set out by the party leaders in the final weeks of the referendum campaign.
He announced that the government would shortly say more about the devolution of further powers to the cities and regions of the UK.
Cameron said: "The people of Scotland have spoken and it is a clear result. They have kept our country of four nations together and, like millions of other people, I am delighted.
"As I said during the campaign, it would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end. And I know that sentiment was shared by people not just across our country but around the world because of what we have achieved together in the past and what we can do together in the future.
"So now it is time for our United Kingdom to come together and to move forward. A vital part of that will be a balanced settlement, fair to people in Scotland and importantly to everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well."
Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said the referendum was a vote from the Scottish people for change. "We know our country needs to change in the way it is governed and we know our country needs to change in who it is governed for. We will deliver on stronger powers for a stronger Scottish parliament, a strong Scotland."
But he said that would go beyond Scotland. "We will also meet the desire for change across England, across Wales, across the whole of the United Kingdom."
Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, said the referendum "marks not only a new chapter for Scotland within the UK but also wider constitutional reform across the union".
Echoing the SNP's argument, he said a vote against independence was "clearly not a vote against change".
"We must now deliver on time and in full the radical package of newly devolved powers to Scotland," he added.
Yet that result raises the risk of further turmoil, with MPs from Cameron's Conservative party threatening to revolt against the prime minister's late and potentially vital vow to quickly increase the Scottish parliament's powers while protecting its spending.
The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, said Cameron's offer of more devolution for England did not go far enough. "The English are 86% by population of this union. They've been left out of all of this for the last 18 years. We still have a situation where Scottish MPs can vote in the House of Commons on English-only issues. I think what most English people want is a fair settlement," he said.
The Queen made a statement on Friday saying the UK would respect the result of the referendum.
The prime minister wants to move fast to show that the three main UK party leaders will live up to their commitments made during the referendum campaign to deliver what the former prime minister Gordon Brown called home rule within the UK.
Ministers believe it is important to move quickly to avoid a repeat of the 1980 referendum in Québec. The triumphalist behaviour of Ontario fuelled the separatist cause that nearly succeeded in a second referendum in 1995.
For the no campaign there was relief: a spate of authoritative polls in the final days of the campaign had said the vote was on a knife edge, bringing Yes Scotland within touching distance of victory after a dramatic surge in support.
Sterling jumped, reaching a new two-year high against the euro in Asian trading hours, as the referendum was called in favour of the no vote. The FTSE 100 opened 44 points higher.