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Alex Salmond says being first minister of Scotland was a 'privilege' Alex Salmond resignation speech predicts change for Scotland
(about 2 hours later)
Alex Salmond has said he would "miss" being first minister, ahead of making his resignation address to parliament. Alex Salmond has used his resignation speech as first minister to say "more change and better days" lie ahead for Scotland.
He added that doing the job for seven-and-a-half years was the "privilege of my life". Ms Sturgeon is expected to be elected to the role. He told parliament that serving in the job for seven-and-a-half years was the "privilege of my life".
She took over the SNP leadership from her former boss during the party's conference at the weekend. Nicola Sturgeon is expected to be voted in as first minister by MSPs on Wednesday, after she took over the SNP leadership at the weekend.
Before his statement to MSPs, Mr Salmond joked that he was looking forward to getting better at golf. Mr Salmond is considering whether to stand as an MP in the 2015 UK election.
Mr Salmond, who decided to quit as first minister and SNP leader in the wake of the "No" vote in September's Scottish independence referendum is staying on as an MSP. Mr Salmond, who decided to step back from frontline Holyrood politics in the wake of the "No" vote in September's Scottish independence referendum, said: "It has been the privilege of my life to serve as first minister for these last seven-and-a-half years.
Ahead of his appearance in parliament, he said: "I love being first minister. It's been the privilege of my life to to this - I'll miss it dreadfully." "Any parting is tinged with some sorrow, but in this case it's vastly outweighed by a sense of optimism and confidence.
Asked what he would do next, Mr Salmond - who is considering standing for Westminster in the May 2015 election - joked: "There's some things I do reasonably well. I'm usually reasonable at hoovering. "Confidence that we will have an outstanding new first minister, confidence in the standing and the capability of this chamber and - most of all - confidence in the wisdom, the talent, the potential of the people of Scotland."
"I'm a pretty good shopper I think, although I buy too many of these three-for-two things - I'm a sucker for bargains." Mr Salmond, whose wife Moira looked on as he addressed MSPs, added: "Scotland has changed - changed utterly and much for the better over the 15 years of this parliament and over the seven years of this government.
He added: "I want to do something about my golf game - I used to be good and now I'm kind of bad and my ambition is to get back to mediocre." "I'm happy to say with every degree of certainty that more change and better days lie ahead for this parliament and for Scotland."
Mr Salmond was speaking as he unveiled a monument at Edinburgh's Heriot Watt University, bearing one of his famous quotes.
The commemorative stone is inscribed with the Robert Burns inspired phrase: "The rocks will melt with the sun before I allow tuition fees to be imposed on Scottish students," a comment made by Mr Salmond in 2011 while outlining his government's higher education policy.
A Rebel's Journey