Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond yesterday said he will step down from his post and as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) after the country voted against independence in a historic referendum.
“I believe that in this new exciting situation, redolent with possibility, the party, parliament and country would benefit from new leadership,” he said at a press conference in Edinburgh. Salmond said he hoped the 1.6mn people who voted for independence would keep up the pressure on the government to deliver the new powers it had promised to Scotland as an alternative to leaving the United Kingdom.
“We lost the referendum vote but Scotland can still carry the political initiative. Scotland can still emerge as the real winner,” the tired-sounding politician said.
“For me as leader my time is nearly over. But for Scotland the campaign continues and the dream shall never die.”
Salmond, who has fought his whole political life for independence, said he would not seek re-election as party leader at the SNP conference in November.
Once his successor was chosen, he said he would step down as first minister of the devolved government in Edinburgh, a post he has held since 2007.
The new SNP leader would have to be elected by the Scottish parliament, but this would not likely be a problem as the SNP has a majority in the legislature.
“It has been the privilege of my life to serve as first minister, but as I said often enough during this referendum campaign, this is a process that’s not about me or the SNP or any political party,” he said. “It’s much more important than that.”
