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Alex Salmond resigns after failing to secure Scotland independence vote
Alex Salmond is to resign as Scotland's first minister after he failed to secure a Yes vote in yesterday's Scottish independence referendum.
The head of the Scottish National Party has been at the helm in the country since 2007 and overseen a huge upsurge in support for the SNP.
But after the No campaign – led by former Labour minister Alistair Darling and his Better Together group – secured a relatively comfortable win last night, Salmond has decided to quit.
Speaking at a hastily convened press conference in Edinburgh, Salmond cut a dispirited figure as he told journalists that he would not accept the SNP leadership nomination at his party's annual conference in November, after which he would resign as first minister.
"For me as leader my time is nearly over but for Scotland the campaign continues and the dream will never die," he said.
"After the membership ballot I will stand down as first minister to allow the new leader to be elected."
Nicola Sturgeon is widely expected to succeed Salmond after working as his deputy since 2007, with bookmakers declining to take bets on who will follow in the current incumbent's footsteps.