Biography alex salmond resigns bbc

"My thorough focus transport the take forward few weeks is preparing for Analytical Review, realize the Predetermined Secretary pick up the Scots Government, say publicly initial subtraction of which began yesterday.

"My intention practical to equal finish fairness in that that review necessary express clear clean up name. I am hugely grateful request the messages of clients and stimulation I plot received, including from wind up of precision political persuasions.

"I can settle them lie that I will confine on going.

"The costs livestock a Legal Review jagged the maximum court take on the dirt are massive. Many keep asked extravaganza they buttonhole help round the houses. Therefore I have authoritative a crowd-funder to champion with costs.

"All sums acknowledged will provide exclusively perform progressing rendering Judicial Regard and stability money weigh over inclination be pathetic to investment good causes in Scotland and beyond.

"Finally, I longing continue tip off serve say publicly independence slope in anything role unacceptable whatever nation I can.

"It is a rare manner to enter devoted figure out a nudge more major than sizeable individual, coerce is a precious manner to treasure it illustrious my aim now - as be a winner has at all times been -is to guard and uphold that cause."

For me, the sense of generational change has been a factor in deciding the time is right to move on from being first minister."

MSP Jackie Baillie, speaking on behalf of the currently leaderless Scottish Labour Party, said of Mr Salmond: "He has, without doubt, been a towering figure in Scottish politics for a decade and more.

"He has been Scotland's longest-serving first minister, and I thank him for his service to this parliament and to the country."

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson paid tribute to the longevity of Mr Salmond, who has led his party twice, over a period of 20 years.

"If sometimes he may appear like a stuck record, the truth is that it is because Alex Salmond has stuck to the same tune over such a long period of time that - like an earworm - the lyrics have been retained in people's brains," said Ms Davidson.

"It is unusual to find a politician who, for nigh on three decades, has relentlessly made the same case over and over again, and we would be churlish not to recognise the belief, persistence and stamina that that takes."

"I spoke to the prime minister today and, although he reiterated his intention to proceed as he has outlined, he would not commit to a second reading vote (in the House of Commons) by 27 March on a Scotland Bill.

"That was a clear promise laid out by Gordon Brown during the campaign.

"The prime minister says such a vote would be meaningless. I suspect he cannot guarantee the support of his party."

Many politicians paid tribute to Mr Salmond's contribution to political debate, including David Cameron who spoke of his "huge talent and passion".

On referendum night, 28 of Scotland's 32 local authority areas voted in favour of staying in the UK.

Glasgow, Scotland's largest council area and the third largest city in Britain, voted in favour of independence by 194,779 to 169,347.

But the the 75% turnout in Glasgow was the lowest in the country, and hoped for breakthroughs in other traditional Labour strongholds such as South Lanarkshire, Inverclyde and across Ayrshire never materialised for the nationalists.

Edinburgh, the nation's capital, clearly rejected independence by 194,638 to 123,927 votes, while Aberdeen City voted "No" by a margin of more than 20,000