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Scotland's lord advocate resigns Scotland's lord advocate resigns
(10 minutes later)
Scotland's top prosecutor is resigning from his job, it has been announced.Scotland's top prosecutor is resigning from his job, it has been announced.
The lord advocate Lord Boyd has written to First Minister Jack McConnell to inform him of his plans. The Lord Advocate Lord Boyd has written to First Minister Jack McConnell to inform him of his plans.
A statement from the first minister's spokesman confirmed Lord Boyd would stand down from his post at midnight on Wednesday.A statement from the first minister's spokesman confirmed Lord Boyd would stand down from his post at midnight on Wednesday.
He was recently given a life peerage and intends to play a full role in the House of lords and seek opportunities in the private sector. He was recently given a life peerage and intends to play a full role in the House of Lords and seek opportunities in the private sector.
Lord Boyd was head of the prosecution service and was also the Scottish Executive's senior legal adviser.
He was a solicitor in private practice before being called to the Scottish Bar in 1983, worked as an advocate depute from 1993 to 1995 and took Silk in 1995.
He was solicitor general for Scotland from May 1997 until his appointment as the lord advocate.
McKie investigation
In April 2006 he was appointed to the House of Lords, taking his title from Duncansby Head in Caithness.
His work has involved the prosecution in the Lockerbie bombing trail and he has been caught up in the controversy surrounding the Shirley McKie fingerprint case.
The executive has stressed that Lord Boyd's decision to stand down was not related to the McKie investigation.
His duties will be taken up by the current Solicitor General, Elish Angiolini QC.