Alex Salmond is standing down. Here's what you need to know

Alex Salmond is standing down as SNP leader and Scottish first minister after Scotland voted no to independence.

In last night's poll 1,617,989 (45 per cent) voted Yes to an independent Scotland while 2,001,926 (55 per cent) voted No.

In a statement today Mr Salmond said he was proud of the campaign but he had decided to step down after the SNP conference in November.

After the membership ballot I will stand down as First Minister to allow the new leader to be elected by due Parliamentary process. Until then I will continue to serve as First Minister. After that I will continue to offer to serve as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeenshire East.

It has been the privilege of my life to serve Scotland as First Minister. But as I said often during the referendum campaign this is not about me or the SNP. It is much more important than that. 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.

• Alex Salmond

In a piece for the Independent James Cusick points out that Mr Salmond will be 60 in November, when he steps down.

Such a defeat - after months of soaring expectations and claims that a political earthquake was imminent – would have destroyed other would-be kings. The wide-spread expectation was that Alex Salmond would somehow find yet another come-back route. Instead he has chosen to go – and though the phrase is over-worn, Scotland may never see his like again.

• James Cusick

SNP Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon is the 1/3 favourite to replace Mr Salmond, according to William Hill.

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