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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Alex Salmond resigns: Scottish First Minister to stand down after referendum defeat | Alex Salmond resigns: Scottish First Minister to stand down after referendum defeat |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Alex Salmond has announced he is to stand down as the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and as Scotland's First Minister after losing the independence vote at the Scottish referendum. | Alex Salmond has announced he is to stand down as the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and as Scotland's First Minister after losing the independence vote at the Scottish referendum. |
| Mr Salmond said that at the age of 59, after 20 years as SNP leader and seven years as First Minister, it was time to hand over the reins. | Mr Salmond said that at the age of 59, after 20 years as SNP leader and seven years as First Minister, it was time to hand over the reins. |
| He confirmed that he will not accept nomination to be a candidate for leader at the Annual Conference in Perth in November. After the membership ballot, he will stand down as First Minister. | He confirmed that he will not accept nomination to be a candidate for leader at the Annual Conference in Perth in November. After the membership ballot, he will stand down as First Minister. |
| Mr Salmond stressed he is not retiring completely from political life and will instead continue to offer to serve as MSP for Aberdeenshire East. | Mr Salmond stressed he is not retiring completely from political life and will instead continue to offer to serve as MSP for Aberdeenshire East. |
| He told the media gathered at a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh: "We lost the referendum vote but Scotland can still carry the political initiative. For me as leader my time is nearly over but for Scotland the campaign continues and the dream shall never die." | He told the media gathered at a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh: "We lost the referendum vote but Scotland can still carry the political initiative. For me as leader my time is nearly over but for Scotland the campaign continues and the dream shall never die." |
| A seemingly tired Mr Salmond said he had to make a judgement about whether he is best placed to take Scotland forward, saying he believed there are others better suited. | |
| The Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is widely considered to be one of the frontrunners to replace him both as SNP leader and First Minister. | The Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is widely considered to be one of the frontrunners to replace him both as SNP leader and First Minister. |
| There are a "number of eminently qualified and very suitable candidates for leader", he added, but declined to comment on who he would be backing as his replacement. | There are a "number of eminently qualified and very suitable candidates for leader", he added, but declined to comment on who he would be backing as his replacement. |
| The SNP leader suggested that while the David Cameron "reiterated his intention to proceed as he has outlined", he may not commit to a second reading vote by 27 March on a Scotland Bill. | |
| "That was a clear promise laid out by Gordon Brown during the campaign," he said. "The Prime Minister says such a vote would be meaningless. I suspect he cannot guarantee the support of his party." | "That was a clear promise laid out by Gordon Brown during the campaign," he said. "The Prime Minister says such a vote would be meaningless. I suspect he cannot guarantee the support of his party." |
| Mr Salmond said Scotland "now has the opportunity to hold Westminster's feet to the fire on the 'vow' that they have made to devolve further meaningful power". | Mr Salmond said Scotland "now has the opportunity to hold Westminster's feet to the fire on the 'vow' that they have made to devolve further meaningful power". |
| When asked if he took any responsibility for the Yes campaign's defeat, he said "no campaign is ever perfect, and whatever mistakes are mine and my own". | When asked if he took any responsibility for the Yes campaign's defeat, he said "no campaign is ever perfect, and whatever mistakes are mine and my own". |
| "The position is this. We lost the referendum vote but can still carry the political initiative. More importantly, Scotland can still emerge as the real winner. | "The position is this. We lost the referendum vote but can still carry the political initiative. More importantly, Scotland can still emerge as the real winner. |
| "I have believed in Scottish independence all my political life […] I shall do everything I possibly can to contribute to that cause." | "I have believed in Scottish independence all my political life […] I shall do everything I possibly can to contribute to that cause." |
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