Alex Salmond resigns as first minister after Scotland rejects independence | Politics | The Guardian Alex Salmond Alex Salmond resigns as first minister after Scotland rejects independence Leader of the Scottish National party will stand down in November, as the vote foreshadowed months of constitutional turmoil Friday 19 September 2014 17.48 EDT First published on Friday 19 September 2014 17.48 EDT Close This article is 2 years old Alex Salmond declared he will stand down as Scotland's first minister and the leader of the Scottish National party after failing to secure a majority for independence, as the country's vote to remain in the United Kingdom foreshadowed months of constitutional turmoil. After 55% of Scottish voters rejected independence, a higher margin than suggested by the final opinion polls of the campaign, Salmond, who has dominated Scottish politics for the past decade, said he would quit in November. Looking drained after a grueling night, Salmond said it was time to move on.

"The last seven years as first minister of Scotland has been the privilege of my life but I think that's a reasonable spell of service, and I think that we have to understand and recognise when it is time to give someone else a chance to move that forward," Salmond said in his resignation statement delivered at the first minister's residence at Bute House, in Edinburgh. The challenge laid down by the result – achieved only after a lastminute series of concessions by the UK political parties – shifted to London. A months-long constitutional battle now seems certain. The Queen i ssued a rare public statement, urging unity after a divisive campaign. After the final tally of votes, the no campaign won 55.3%, compared to 44.7% for yes. Despite the defeat, that figure was a high water mark for the independence movement and the Scottish National party. Pro-union supporters celebrate as Scottish independence referendum results are announced at a 'Better Together' event in Glasgow, Scotland Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images David Cameron declared a "clear result" and promised a "devolution revolution" across Britain . "There can be no disputes, no reruns – we have heard the settled will of the Scottish people," the prime minister said.

The yes campaign scored four big successes, winning 53% of the vote in Scotland's largest city, Glasgow, 54% in West Dunbartonshire, 57% in Dundee and 51% in North Lanarkshire. However, the no camp was victorious in 28 local authority areas. It won overwhelmingly in regions where it was expected to do well, including Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire and Borders, but also in areas that could have gone to the yes campaign, including Falkirk, Inverclyde, Eilean Siar and Clackmannanshire. In the final count, the no camp clocked up 2,001,926 votes to 1,617,989 for yes. Cameron acted to head off a revolt by rank-and-file Conservative MPs, worried that he had given too many concessions to Scotland in the last days of the campaign. Speaking in Downing Street shortly after 7am, the prime minister announced that the price for further devolution of powers to Scotland must be an agreement that only English MPs should be allowed to vote on legislation that affects England alone.

David Cameron: 'We have heard the voice of Scotland and now the millions of voices of England must be heard.' Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA But the Cameron plan angered Scottish nationalists, who had not been told that further powers for the Scottish parliament might be intertwined with constitutional progress over English affairs. Cameron said: "I have long believed a crucial part missing from this national discussion is England. We have heard the voice of Scotland and now the millions of voices of England must also be heard. "The question of English votes for English laws, the so-called West Lothian question, requires a decisive answer, so just as Scotland will vote separately on their issues of tax, spending and welfare, so too England as well as Wales and Northern Ireland should be able to vote on these issues. "All this must take place in tandem with and at the same pace as the settlement for Scotland." The leader of the opposition Labour party, Ed Miliband, countered with a demand for a constitutional convention to review voting arrangements at Westminster and the powers of English cities, and called for an elected second chamber to represent the regions and nations of the United Kingdom. Pro-independence supporters console each other after a no vote in the Scottish referendum.

'The result is the beginning of a conversation, not the closing statement of a soliloquy.' Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images In Edinburgh, Salmond said he had made the decision to quit in the morning after the referendum result emerged: "For me right now there is a decision as to who is best placed to lead this process forward politically. "I believe that in this new exciting situation, redolent with possibility, party, parliament and country would benefit from new leadership." He said he would not accept the SNP's nomination to be a candidate for leader at the party's annual conference in Perth in November, allowing a new party leader to be elected. Given the SNP's majority in the Scottish parliament, the new leader will also become first minister. Salmond is likely to be succeeded by his deputy Nicola Sturgeon, who has become a commanding figure in the independence campaign after being appointed by Salmond to lead the referendum process. Speaking minutes after Salmond's announcement, Sturgeon said that she could think of "no greater privilege" than to succeed Salmond as SNP leader and first minister, but that the decision "is not for today".

This is the second time Salmond has resigned as leader of his party in dramatic circumstances: he stood down from his first stint as leader in September 2000, only a year after the newly established Scottish parliament was founded in Edinburgh. Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon after casting her vote in the referendum. Photograph: Gary Calton In London, Cameron made clear that the constitutional reforms, including in Scotland, would not be delivered until after the general election, and that Scottish measures would proceed in tandem with changes in England. "We have heard the voice of Scotland and now the millions of voices of England must be heard," he said. Cameron threw down a challenge to the Labour opposition to say whether it would agree to the introduction of English votes for English MPs, and announced that William Hague, leader of the House of Commons, would advance the issue in a special cabinet committee. The prime minister, vindicated in his decision to stage a yes/no referendum, also revealed he had asked Lord Smith of Kelvin to implement the Scottish devolution reforms set out by the party leaders in the final weeks of the referendum campaign. He announced that the government would shortly say more about the devolution of further powers to the cities and regions of the UK.

Miliband, the Labour leader, said the referendum was a vote from the Scottish people for change. "We know our country needs to change in the way it is governed and we know our country needs to change in who it is governed for. We will deliver on stronger powers for a stronger Scottish parliament, a strong Scotland." But he said that would go beyond Scotland. "We will also meet the desire for change across England, across Wales, across the whole of the United Kingdom." Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, said the referendum "marks not only a new chapter for Scotland within the UK but also wider constitutional reform across the union". Echoing the SNP's argument, he said a vote against independence was "clearly not a vote against change". "We must now deliver on time and in full the radical package of newly devolved powers to Scotland," he added. Yet that result raises the risk of further turmoil, with MPs from Cameron's Conservative party threatening to revolt against the prime minister's late and potentially vital vow to quickly increase the Scottish parliament's powers while protecting its spending. Nigel Farage, leader of the rightwing Ukip party, said Cameron's offer of more devolution for England did not go far enough.

"The English are 86% by population of this union. They've been left out of all of this for the last 18 years. We still have a situation where Scottish MPs can vote in the House of Commons on English-only issues. I think what most English people want is a fair settlement," he said. The prime minister wants to move fast to show that the three main UK party leaders will live up to their commitments made during the referendum campaign to deliver what the former prime minister Gordon Brown called home rule within the UK. Ministers believe it is important to move quickly to avoid a repeat of the 1980 referendum in Québec. The triumphalist behaviour of Ontario fuelled the separatist cause that nearly succeeded in a second referendum in 1995. For the no campaign there was relief: a spate of authoritative polls in the final days of the campaign had said the vote was on a knife edge, bringing Yes Scotland within touching distance of victory after a dramatic surge in support. Sterling jumped, reaching a new two-year high against the euro in Asian trading hours, as the referendum was called in favour of the no vote. The FTSE 100 opened 44 points higher.

The Press Association contributed to this report One of SNP’s most senior MPs to argue Scottish government needs a champion at Westminster for greater devolution Published: 25 Sep 2014 SNP deputy first minister vows to work in good faith with pro-union parties on delivering new powers for Scottish parliament Published: 24 Sep 2014 The wrangles over Holyrood’s tax and welfare powers will dominate Nicola Sturgeon’s life as first minister but domestic problems are likely to be significant too, over the NHS, childcare, climate policy and college places Published: 24 Sep 2014 With the SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon's promotion said to be in 'no doubt', women's campaigns hail a breakthrough Published: 20 Sep 2014 BBC News - Who belongs to the worldwide club of women leaders? Who belongs to the worldwide club of women leaders? By Alicia Queiro BBC Scotland New Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon has been elected first minister of Scotland. That means she will join other women leaders in a small club that includes no fewer than four "Iron Ladies" and one karate black belt. But who are they?

Women leaders Profile Michelle Bachelet, Chile Left-wing Michelle Bachelet, a paediatrician by training, was forced to leave office in 2010 as the Chilean constitution doesn't allow for two consecutive presidential terms. The Socialist Party politician was re-elected in 2013 by a wide margin, and she became the first Chilean leader since Gen Augusto Pinochet to serve two terms. In between her presidencies the openly agnostic separated mother-of-three headed UN Women, a new agency for promoting women's equality. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca succeeded George Abela to become the ninth president of Malta. At 55, she's the youngest president and the second woman to hold the position. Mrs Coleiro Preca has been active in politics since the age of 16. A member of the country's Labour Party, she became General Secretary for nine years. As Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, she set up Malta's first sexual assault crisis centre. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Argentina Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, of the left-wing Front for Victory party, is Argentina's first elected female president.

She was also half of an Argentine power couple to rival Juan and Evita Peron: her late husband Nestor Kirchner was also her political predecessor, serving as president from 2003 to 2007, when he died of a heart attack. She has attempted to address past human rights abuses and in 2010, Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalise same-sex marriage. But the country has battled economic problems and her enemies are quick to accuse her of corruption. Dalia Grybauskaite, Lithuania Lithuania's first female president enjoyed an emphatic victory in 2009 and was re-elected in 2014 - her anti-Russian platform won votes at a time when Lithuanians felt threatened by Russia. She served as a senior civil servant after the country became independent in 1990 and as finance minister for three years from 2001. Ms Grybauskaite is not the only female leader to have earned the "Iron Lady" nickname - but she may be the only one with a black belt in karate.

Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina was sworn in for a third term as prime minister in 2014 after an unsurprising victory for her Awami League party. The general election was boycotted by the opposition who demanded a neutral caretaker to oversee voting. Ms Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mijibur Rahman, Bangladesh's founding father and first president. She was forced into exile after his murder in a 1975 coup, but won the 1996 election to become prime minister. Her first term was dogged by corruption claims. She has also survived an assassination attempt. Atifete Jahjaga, Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga was elected Kosovo's first female president by parliament, thereby becoming the first female head of state of the modern Balkans. At 39, she's also the youngest to be elected to the office. She replaced the Swiss-Kosovan tycoon Behgjet Paco, whose election was ruled unlawful. Ms Jahjaga, a former Deputy Director of the Kosovo Police, was chosen as an interim compromise candidate until parliament agrees on direct popular elections for the presidency.

Ana Jara, Peru Trained lawyer and member of the Peruvian Nationalist Party Ana Jara served as Minister of Women and Social development before becoming the sixth prime minister of the country in less than three years. Her predecessor Rene Cornejo resigned in July 2014 following allegations that one of his advisors paid to discredit an opponent. She works with President Ollanta Humala, a career army officer who won the June 2011 election with his promises to respect democracy and help the poor. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is another female leader whose supporters borrow the "Iron Lady" title. The 76-year-old became Africa's first elected female head of state when Liberia's 14-year civil war ended in 2005. In 2011, she was re-elected - the same year she won the Nobel Peace Prize. Mrs Sirleaf was imprisoned in the 1980s for criticising Samuel Does' military regime, and initially backed Charles Taylor's rebellion, for which she's since apologised. She was charged with treason and returned to exile after Taylor beat her in the 1997 presidential election.

Ewa Kopacz, Poland Ewa Kopacz, of the centre-right Civic Platform party, was the only woman to be a speaker of parliament before being hand-picked by Donald Tusk to take over as prime minister after his appointment as president of the European Council. The former paediatrician and GP took over the reins in September 2014, becoming the second woman to hold the post of prime minister in the country. Before taking on the role, the daughter of a tailor and a mechanic served as Minister of Health for four years until 2011. Angela Merkel, Germany The former quantum chemist and austerity enthusiast Angela Merkel became Germany's first female chancellor in 2005. Mrs Merkel was judged by Forbes to be the world's most powerful woman in 2014. Her nickname - "Mutti", or "mummy" - was supposedly conceived by opponents in her party, the CDU, to patronise her. But it was turned into a campaigning tool by her own people. Mrs Merkel's prescription of budget cuts and fiscal austerity has led to some hostility in struggling EU states such as Greece and Spain.

Park Geun-hye, South Korea Sworn in in 2013, Park Geun-hye - the first female head of state in Northeast Asia's modern history - now leads the country with the highest level of gender equality in the developed world. She has promised to redistribute wealth, reform big conglomerates and engage with North Korea. No stranger to the corridors of power, Park Geun-hye became first lady of South Korea at just 22. She took over her mother's duties after she was assassinated in 1974, killed by a bullet intended for her husband, Park Chung-hee, then-president of the country. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar became Trinidad and Tobago's first female prime minister after a landslide victory. She leads the tri-party People's Partnership coalition, which defeated the incumbent People's National movement after four decades of almost uninterrupted rule. In 2011, the former attorney general denounced an alleged assassination plot, aimed at herself and members of her cabinet, as "evil". She attributed it to the state of emergency she had declared to combat a rise in violent crime due to drugs gangs.

Dilma Rousseff, Brazil The third of the list to earn the "Iron Lady" moniker, Dilma Rousseff certainly has tough credentials: quite apart from infamous public dressings-down of her ministers, she held her ground when subjected to torture during her three-year imprisonment in 1970, after she joined the left-wing underground movement against Brazil's military dictatorship. Her career has not been without its difficulties: Ms Rousseff has been criticised for her country's slide into recession, and the opposition has tried to link her to corruption. Catherine Samba-Panza, Central African Republic Catherine Samba-Panza was appointed mayor of Bangui in 2013 and elected interim president of the Central African Republic soon after, making her the first woman to hold the post. The successful Christian businesswoman and corporate lawyer is regarded as politically neutral. She was accepted by both Seleka rebels - who overthrew the Central African Republic government in 2013 - and their opponents, and urged an end to bloodshed in her victory speech. Portia Simpson-Miller, Jamaica The leader of the People's National Party - who grew up in a Kingston ghetto - won the December 2011 election with a comfortable margin.

It was not the first time she had occupied the top spot - she became Jamaica's first female prime minister in 2006, but was defeated in 2007 after 17 years of PNP rule. In her 2012 inaugural address - made in the same year the Caribbean country celebrated 50 years of independence from Britain - Mrs Simpson-Miller said it was time for Jamaica to break with the British monarchy and have its own president. Erna Solberg, Norway Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg became Norway's second female Prime Minister in 2013, heading a right-wing minority coalition government - a phenomenon more common in Nordic countries. Half her cabinet posts are filled by women. Her government had promised to lower taxes, reduce the country's dependence on its oil sector, invest in infrastructure and curb immigration. Her tough stance as local government minister for asylum and regional development earned her the nickname "Iron Erna". Laimdota Straujuma, Latvia Laimdota Straujuma's centre-right coalition was elected in 2014, amid fears of Russian intervention in Ukraine.

Ms Straujuma, an economist by training, became Latvia's first female prime minister after the resignation of Valdis Dombrovskis, who stepped down after a supermarket roof collapsed and killed dozens in Riga. She promised to continue his austerity-orientated economic policies, which were an effort to rescue the state from bankruptcy and prepare it to join the euro in 2014. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland Nicola Sturgeon is taking the reins as First Minister of Scotland. An SNP member since 16, she rose through the party ranks before submitting a leadership bid in 2004. But Ms Sturgeon withdrew her candidacy in favour of joining forces with Alex Salmond. She has pledged to be Scotland's "most accessible first minister ever". Ms Sturgeon will be leading the party through the 2016 Scottish election, as well as fighting for more powers for Scotland following the referendum in which voters said "No" to independence. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt caused heads to swivel all over the internet last year when she posed for a now-famous "selfie" with David Cameron and Barack Obama at Nelson Mandela's memorial.

But her political career was flying high long before that snapshot. She became leader of Denmark's Social Democrat party in 2005, and the country's first female prime minister in 2011. During the campaign, her stylish appearance earned her the nickname "Gucci Helle". Members of her own traditional workers' party have levelled similar criticism at Mrs Thorning. Tatiana Turanskaya, Trans-Dniester The self-proclaimed separatist region of Trans-Dniester is not recognised by the international community. In 1990, it proclaimed independence from Moldova, with which tensions remain high. It occupies a strip of land between the Dniester river and Ukraine, and is still considered one of the "frozen conflicts" of the post-Soviet space. Tatiana Turanskaya replaced Pyotr Stepanov as Prime Minister after he resigned last year. She leads alongside President Yevgeny Shevchuk, who wants to improve relations with Moldova and Ukraine. More on This Story Nicola Sturgeon to become new SNP leader - BBC News BBC News Nicola Sturgeon to become new SNP leader 15 October 2014 Read more about sharing.

Close share panel Media captionMs Sturgeon says it will be "an enormous privilege" to succeed Alex Salmond as SNP leader and Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon will succeed Alex Salmond as leader of the SNP, after becoming the only person to put her name forward for the job. Ms Sturgeon, also set to become Scotland's first female first minister, pledged to ensure more powers were delivered to the Edinburgh parliament. She also announced plans to hold a series of rallies across Scotland. Ms Sturgeon, currently deputy SNP leader, will take up her new job at the party's November conference. The move came after Mr Salmond's decision to stand down as SNP leader and first minister after the vote against independence in September's referendum. Ms Sturgeon told the BBC she would have "relished" a leadership contest, but said she was "honoured" to have been chosen by the party as its leader. Asked what she would do if the Westminster parties failed to deliver more powers for Scotland, Ms Sturgeon responded: "If Westminster renege on those promises, then it is not a case of what I will do to them - it is a case of what the Scottish people will do.

Image copyright PA Image caption Ms Sturgeon confirmed her intention to succeed Mr Salmond at an event last month "The Scottish people would ensure [Westminster parties] would pay a heavy, heavy electoral price." Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon said her tour of Scotland would begin on 29 October in Edinburgh and end on 7 December in Aberdeen. The series of rallies - which includes a stop-off in November at Glasgow's 12,000-capacity SSE Hydro - are aimed at the 50,000 new members the SNP has signed up since last month's referendum. "Our new members bring a new energy and dynamism - and not just to the SNP," Ms Sturgeon said," adding: "They are also a potent force who can help Scotland progress as a country. "I am looking forward to meeting as many of our new recruits as possible and sharing with them my vision for the future." Analysis: Andrew Black, BBC Scotland political reporter It may have been more of a coronation than a competition but, after years of speculation, we can now say that Nicola Sturgeon will be the next leader of the Scottish National Party and, by association, Scotland's next first minister.

The "No" vote in September's independence referendum was a bitter blow for the SNP, but Ms Sturgeon is now trying to show her party's ready to move on from defeat. How will she do that? First up, with a pledge to hold David Cameron to his word and deliver substantial new powers to the devolved Scottish Parliament. Ms Sturgeon's also looking to capitalise on the massive surge in SNP membership - up from 25,000 on 18 September to more than 80,000 (and rising) - by going on a Scottish tour to show she's the leader, not just of her party, but of the whole nation. One of her key headline dates during this post-Salmond era will be an appearance at Glasgow's 12,000 capacity SSE Hydro in November, as the party seeks to show people that, despite the outcome of the referendum, the SNP isn't going anywhere. Apart from that, Ms Sturgeon - once she is voted in as first minister by parliament - still has Scotland's devolved government to run and, beyond that, will be taking the SNP into the 2016 Scottish election, in which the party will seek an unprecedented third term in office.

Before that, her first electoral test comes with the UK election next May - a contest in which the SNP will be seeking to send MPs to a parliament which it says has failed to serve the people of Scotland, yet plays a vital role in delivering more powers to Holyrood. And yes, there will be questions about whether there should have been an SNP leadership contest, rather than Ms Sturgeon standing as the sole candidate. In reality, there wasn't really any other name in the frame to succeed Alex Salmond. Ms Sturgeon will also need to deal with the tricky issue thrown up by her opponents - the timescale for a possible future independence referendum, previously described by her government as a "once in a generation" event. She's not ruling it out, but right now Ms Sturgeon says her main focus is on strengthening the powers of the Scottish Parliament and holding her old adversaries - the Conservatives - to account. During Scottish Questions at Westminster today, Tory Minister David Mundell congratulated Ms Sturgeon, the first woman to lead the SNP, on following in the footsteps of Margaret Thatcher.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson pointed out the key difference there was that the SNP is Scotland's most popular political party, while the Conservatives, with their one MP, are far less so. And that's the way Ms Sturgeon wants to keep it. Ms Sturgeon's appointment as first minister still needs the approval of parliament, but the SNP's majority at Holyrood will ensure it goes through. Speaking at a Scottish Trades Union Congress event in Glasgow, Mr Salmond said Ms Sturgeon was "well capable of dealing with any events in the future". He added: "But what I would like to say is congratulations to her, I think she will be an outstanding leader of the Scottish National Party and an outstanding first minister of Scotland. "Of course that has to be elected by the parliament, but I think Scotland's first woman first minister will be an outstanding first minister." SNP business convener Derek Mackay said he was "delighted" that Ms Sturgeon will succeed Mr Salmond as leader. He added: "The party is in great heart and relishing the opportunities ahead.

Image copyright PA Image caption Ms Sturgeon regards Mr Salmond as her mentor, and has served as his deputy since 2007 "We enjoy a lead in voting intentions for both the next Westminster and Holyrood elections, with a record number of members bringing new energy, commitment and enthusiasm to our ranks." Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said: "I warmly welcome and congratulate Nicola Sturgeon on the confirmation that she will be the new leader of the SNP, and believe it to be a positive step that the three main parties in Scotland will all be led by women." But she added: "Tours of the country speaking to your own supporters will only do so much. "If, as expected, Nicola Sturgeon is voted in as first minister she will have to lead the whole country not just those that vote SNP." Scottish Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone asked how the SNP could claim to be Scotland's most democratic party when Ms Sturgeon became leader unopposed. "We all know how keen the SNP leadership were on keeping the monarchy and that seems to extend to adopting a similar succession model for their new leader," he said. Meanwhile, three candidates are vying to replace Ms Sturgeon as SNP deputy leader in a contest being decided by a vote of party members.

Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown, who is seen as a front runner in the contest, is up against Youth Employment Secretary Angela Constance and SNP Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie. The winner be declared at the SNP annual conference, being held in Perth. Q&A: Scottish independence referendum - BBC News BBC News Q&A: Scottish independence referendum By Andrew Black Political reporter, BBC Scotland 26 November 2013 Close share panel Next autumn, the people of Scotland will vote on whether the nation should become an independent country. The deal to hold the referendum has been done and the date has been set - now it's up to the campaigners to put their case. When is the referendum happening? After much teasing - Scottish First Minister and Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond named the day as Thursday, 18 September, 2014. Why this date? Practical matters like October holidays, the UK party conference season and Scotland's famed wintry weather were all potential obstacles. Incidentally, 2014 also happens to be the year two prestigious sporting events - the Ryder Cup golf tournament and the Commonwealth Games - are being held in Scotland.

And for the more romantically-minded, next year is also the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, which saw the English army defeated by the forces of King of Scots Robert the Bruce, during the wars of independence. Who gets to vote? Essentially, everyone over the age of 16 who lives in Scotland. The voter "franchise", as it's known, is largely the same as for a Scottish Parliament and council elections, with the addition of lowering the voting age from 18. That means the 800,000 Scots who live in other parts of the UK don't get a vote, while the 400,000 people from elsewhere in Britain who live in Scotland do. All the main players on both sides of the debate agree this is the fairest way to do things. Eligibility to take part in the referendum also includes members of the armed services serving overseas who are registered to vote in Scotland. What will be on the ballot paper?

Voters will be asked the yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" The Scottish government's original version of the question, "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?", was dropped after the Electoral Commission raised concerns it could lead people into voting "yes". Past incarnations of the referendum question have proved far more wordy. The SNP previously said people could be asked to vote "Yes I agree" or "No I disagree" to the statement: "The Scottish Parliament should negotiate a new settlement with the British government, based on the proposals set out in the white paper, so that Scotland becomes a sovereign and independent state." Who is in charge of the referendum? MSPs have approved the terms of the vote in the SNP government's Scottish Independence Referendum Bill . This followed the signing of what became known as the Edinburgh Agreement , by Mr Salmond and UK Prime Minister David Cameron - a measure to ensure the referendum could be "made in Scotland" and held on a fully legal basis. There is no turnout requirement for this referendum - that means a "Yes" vote of "50% plus one" would be enough to gain independence.

The Scottish government says the bill will make sure that: The referendum itself is preceded by a 16-week formal campaign period, during which limits will apply to the amount of money registered campaigners can spend, to ensure a level playing field for both sides of the debate. The vote is overseen by the independent Electoral Commission watchdog, which is responsible for regulating campaign rules and informing the public about the referendum. The ballot is conducted under the direction of a "chief counting officer", who will be responsible for appointing local counting officers. The UK government agreed to give temporary powers to the Scottish Parliament to hold a legal referendum, under Section 30 of the 1998 Scotland Act - the piece of legislation which set up the Scottish Parliament. This is because constitutional matters are reserved to Westminster. The Edinburgh Agreement also commits both governments to working together constructively in the best interests of the people of Scotland, whatever the outcome of the referendum - possibly easier said than done. The SNP's parliamentary majority at Holyrood will ensure the bill is passed. Who will be campaigning? Yes Scotland is the official campaign for independence, while Better Together is the group arguing to keep the Union.

Various political parties have given their support to the two campaigns, depending on their constitutional persuasion, although they are also running their own campaigns, as are the Scottish and UK governments. The Scottish Greens also back independence, as does independent MSP Margo MacDonald, while Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats are opposed. It's likely that other campaign groups will spring up as the campaign goes on. How far back does Scotland's modern independence movement go? The campaign for Scottish home rule began in earnest almost as soon as the unification with England took place, in 1707. At the time, the view was that Scotland was desperate for cash, but opponents of the move were outraged by claims that the Scots who put their names to the Act of Union were bribed. The episode moved Scotland's Bard, Robert Burns, to write: "We are bought and sold for English gold. Such a parcel of rogues in a nation." Fast forward many years to 1934, and the establishment of the Scottish National Party, created through the amalgamation of the Scottish Party and the National Party of Scotland.

After decades of ups and downs, the nationalists won their first election in 2007, forming a minority government, before becoming the first party to win an overall majority at Holyrood in the 2011 poll - securing a mandate for an independence referendum. Has devolution helped the independence campaign? The creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 presented a significant opportunity for the SNP, which at the time had a handful of MPs who were struggling to make the case for independence at Westminster. The prime minister who delivered devolution, Tony Blair, was aware of the potential opportunity a Scottish Parliament could give the SNP. So, the Scottish Parliament's part first-past-the-post, part PR voting system was intended to prevent any one party (ie the SNP) gaining an overall majority. This was the case initially - up to the 2011 election there had been two terms of a Labour/Lib Dem coalition and one of an SNP minority government. The 2011 result blew out of the water the claim once made by Labour veteran Lord Robertson that devolution would "kill nationalism stone dead".

Could the situation now be more akin to comments by another Labour stalwart, Tam Dalyell, who described devolution as "a motorway to independence with no U-turns and no exits?" Does Scotland want independence? Hard to say with any great certainty at the moment. There is no shortage of polling data on the issue of independence, putting support at various levels. Polling expert John Curtice says the British Social Attitudes survey is the only exercise of its kind which has asked the same question about constitutional preferences going back to the foundation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. He says support for independence has tended to oscillate between about a quarter and a third, with an instalment of the survey published in January, suggesting the figure was at its lowest level since the creation of the Holyrood parliament in 1999. A total of 23% of the 1,229 people questioned between July and November last year said they favoured the proposition that, "Scotland should become independent, separate from the rest of the UK". In response, the SNP say the period of time in which the field work was carried out has been overtaken by events.

Prof Curtice, co-author of the survey, also warns: "In truth, there isn't any clear evidence that either one side or the other, over the whole period of devolution, has made significant progress either in reducing support for independence or succeeding in increasing it." Another factor is the number of people who vote SNP, but are not necessarily convinced that independence is the way to go. Prof Curtice adds: "The SNP undoubtedly has succeeded in providing Scotland with what people regard as effective government - but there isn't any clear evidence of any long-term increase in support for independence since 2007." In the Scottish Parliament elections of 1999 and 2003, Labour's plan to essentially scare people out of support for independence worked. Now it seems the public are much less afraid, and, whether or not it's the case that majority support for independence exists, seem much more willing to put it to the test in a referendum. There are many other factors which could affect support for independence - the state of the economy for one thing, and of course every politician's worst nightmare - unforeseen events, or "unknown unknowns", as former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld once put it.

The SNP has an overall majority in Scotland - why does it not simply declare independence? The SNP has always taken the view that, on an issue of such significance, it would first need the backing of the Scottish people in a referendum. It also needs this mandate to negotiate an independence settlement with the UK government. What happens in the event of a 'Yes' Vote? Alex Salmond wants to declare "Independence Day" in March 2016 , with the first elections to an independent parliament in May. Before that happens though, a constitutional settlement would need to be agreed with the UK government, involving weighty issues which may take a long time to resolve. Defence is one - especially since the SNP want rid of Britain's nuclear weapons, based at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde. (Although Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently said Trident would remain temporarily at Faslane while an independent Scotland's Naval HQ was being established there.) On the financial front, agreement in areas like Scotland's share of the national debt and its continued use of the pound - at least initially - would also be needed. Even after independence is achieved there are other hurdles to clear - European Union and Nato membership to name but two.

What happens if there is a 'No' Vote? Would there be another referendum? Alex Salmond has described the independence referendum as a once-in-a-generation event. All the parties - unionist and pro-independence - are keen to avoid the situation which has unfolded in the Canadian province of Quebec, where debate over multiple independence referendums over the years has been dubbed the "neverendum". A "No" result in the referendum could spell the end for the SNP as a mainstream political force. It's also likely that focus would shift back to the debate over more powers for Holyrood - with full fiscal autonomy, as opposed to relying on the Treasury block grant, possibly becoming a more serious option. The opposition parties are already working on offers along those lines, ahead of the referendum. The Liberal Democrats are furthest down the road here with their dream of Scottish home rule and significant new financial and other powers devolved from Westminster. A commission set up by Scottish Labour has suggested there is a "strong case" for Holyrood gaining full income tax powers. The Conservatives - which previously opposed devolution itself - have had the most significant shift in thinking.

Their leader Ruth Davidson - who once said she wished to draw "a line in the sand" over new powers for Holyrood - has now supported increased financial responsibility for the Edinburgh parliament. Election 2015: SNP wins 56 of 59 seats in Scots landslide - BBC News BBC News Election 2015: SNP wins 56 of 59 seats in Scots landslide 8 May 2015 Close share panel Media captionBBC Scotland's Andrew Kerr rounds-up the winners and losers in the general election in Scotland The SNP has recorded a historic landslide general election victory in Scotland, winning 56 out of 59 seats. Labour has been left with just one MP north of the border, but its Scottish leader Jim Murphy, who lost his seat, said he would continue in his post. The Liberal Democrats lost 10 seats with only Alistair Carmichael holding on in Orkney and Shetland. The Conservatives held Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale - the other seat to withstand the SNP tsunami.

The headlines of the night were: Results across Scotland saw the SNP win 50 seats , Labour lose 40 and the Lib Dems lose 10 the SNP won a 50% share of the vote in Scotland, Labour won just 24.3% the SNP won all seven seats in Glasgow with the country's biggest swing - 39.3% from Labour - in Glasgow North East; the Conservatives win a majority at Westminster . The scale of the SNP's rout of Labour is unprecedented. It won by 10,000 votes in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, which had previously been held by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. In East Renfrewshire, the SNP's Kirsten Oswald defeated Mr Murphy - who had been defending a majority of 10,400 - by 3,718 votes. How has Scotland's political map changed? The SNP has won 56 seats, the Tories, Lib Dems and Labour have just one each. That sees Scotland's political map changed from a distinctive red/orange to a widespread yellow.

Despite former Labour MP Ian Davidson - who lost his Glasgow South West seat to the SNP's Christopher Stephens - calling for Mr Murphy to resign he told a news conference on Friday morning that he would "continue the fight". Mhairi Black, who becomes the UK's youngest MP at the age of 20, overturned former shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander's majority of 16,600 in Paisley and Renfrewshire South to win by 5,684 votes - a swing of 27% from Labour to the SNP. The SNP also gained Edinburgh South West, which had previously been held by Labour's former Chancellor Alistair Darling. Labour's former Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran was defeated by more than 10,000 votes by the SNP's Natalie McGarry in Glasgow East. Analysis by Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor In the aftermath of the referendum, folk in Scotland have been in a mindset which was focused upon the need for a clear Scottish voice. That demand is inchoate and imprecise - in that it is not pegged directly or solely to a demand for particular devolved powers or a particular economic strategy. It is, nevertheless, powerful and all-consuming.

Perhaps all the more potent in that it is wide-ranging, rather than narrowly driven. It is an aggregate feeling of remoteness from the concerns of a metropolitan elite, a feeling of physical and cultural distance from the Westminster centre of UK political life. A shout of anger, a yell of anguish, a demand to be heard. And that feeling found expression through the SNP. Nicola Sturgeon is right. It tells us nothing about independence - other than the fact that the people of Scotland were not seemingly scared to endorse a party whose reason for being is to end the Union. Read more from Brian Alan Brown was elected as the new SNP MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun - which was the first seat in Scotland to declare - with 30,000 votes. over Labour's Cathy Jamieson who polled 16,362 votes. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who is now in London for VE Day commemorations, said she had hoped her party would do well but "never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined we'd win 56 out of Scotland's 59 MPs". "The tectonic plates of Scottish politics shifted yesterday - it is a historic result," she said.

Ms Sturgeon told the BBC: "Given that we are, unfortunately, facing another Conservative government, it's all the more important that we've got a strong team of SNP MPs standing up for Scotland. "The government at Westminster cannot ignore what has happened in Scotland, people have voted overwhelmingly for Scotland's voice to be heard and for an end to austerity." Media captionNicola Sturgeon: "The tectonic plates of Scottish politics shifted yesterday" She added: "We will go to Westminster and seek to ensure that Westminster governments can't ignore Scotland, that they can't simply push aside the things that were voted for in Scotland yesterday." Throughout the election campaign, Ms Sturgeon had been hoping to form a "progressive alliance" with other parties to bring about change at Westminster. But with the Conservatives having won a majority at Westminster, she insisted Labour could not blame her party for its failure to win across the UK. Ed Miliband, who has resigned as UK Labour leader in the wake of the loss, said his party had been "overwhelmed" by a "surge of nationalism" in Scotland. Mr Miliband added: "I also want to say that the next government has a huge responsibility in facing the difficult task in keeping our country together.

"Whatever party we come from, if we believe in the UK we should stand up for people in every part of our United Kingdom. Because I believe what unites us is much, much more than what divides us." Speaking in Downing Street after winning an outright majority, Prime Minister David Mr Cameron said the Conservatives would "govern as a party of one nation". Media captionLabour's leader in Scotland, Jim Murphy: ''We make no excuses'' He said new powers promised to Scotland before the referendum would be delivered, creating the "strongest devolved government anywhere in the world". Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg also stood down after his party's disastrous showing across the UK, with 10 losses to the SNP in Scotland. Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy lost his Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat to the SNP's Ian Black ford. Mr Kennedy had held the seat for 32 years. And former Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander lost by more than 10,000 votes to Drew Hendry of the SNP in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey.

The SNP's John Nicolson also defeated Lib Dem incumbent Jo Swinson in Dunbartonshire East 'Lion roaring' The results mean that the SNP has recorded its most successful general election ever. Its previous best was in October 1974, when it won 11 seats. The party won six seats in 2010. Among its new MPs is former party leader Alex Salmond who will be returning to the House of Commons after winning the Gordon constituency from the Liberal Democrats. Mr Salmond, who served as an MP between 1987 and 2010, said: " There's going to be a lion roaring tonight , a Scottish lion, and it's going to roar with a voice that no government of whatever political complexion is going to be able to ignore. "I think it's going to be a resounding voice, a clear voice, a united voice from Scotland, and I think that is a very good thing".

Image copyright Jeff J Mitchell Image caption Ms Sturgeon has arrived at the Glasgow count, where the SNP has won all seven seats Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Alex Salmond will be returning to Westminster after winning in Gordon Image copyright Reuters Image caption Jim Murphy is facing calls to resign as Scottish Labour leader after losing his East Renfrewshire seat to the SNP Image copyright LESLEY MARTIN Image caption Mhairi Black has become the UK's youngest MP at the age of 20 after defeating Douglas Alexander Image caption Danny Alexander was one of the big names to lose his seat Analysis by James Cook, Scotland correspondent David Cameron is back in Downing Street but at what price? Has the Conservative prime minister sacrificed the union for another five years of power? These are the questions many people are asking today after a party which fought for independence for 80 years swept to victory in Scotland. The answer from the jubilant leader of the Scottish National Party, Nicola Sturgeon, is "no", this does not advance her cause. She insisted that her MPs would speak for all of Scotland — not just for the 45% who voted for the country to leave the United Kingdom last September.

"This changes nothing," Ms Sturgeon told me when I asked her about independence at the count in Glasgow, in a brief moment of calm during the nationalist avalanche. Scotland referendum: Alex Salmond to quit as leader of Scottish National Party - World - CBC News Scotland referendum: Alex Salmond to quit as leader of Scottish National Party For Scotland, the campaign is not over, and the dream will never die, Salmond says Posted: Sep 19, 2014 12:26 PM ET Last Updated: Sep 19, 2014 3:44 PM ET Scotland referendum: Head of Scottish National Party quits 2:54 RAW Politicians react to No vote 2:14 Related Stories BBC | Does Scotland's population matter to the referendum debate? (Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.) Scottish National Party Leader Alex Salmond said today he will step down as first minister of Scotland and resign as head of the party that led the campaign for independence. Salmond, 59, told reporters at a news conference Friday he was proud of the campaign and the record turnout for Thursday's vote.

"For Scotland, the campaign is not over, and the dream will never die." PHOTOS: Story of Scotland's No told on Britain's newspaper front pages Salmond was unbowed in his enthusiasm for an independent Scotland and its people. "The real guardians of progress are no longer the politicians at Westminster or even at Holyrood, but the energized activism of tens of thousands of people who I predict will refuse to meekly go back into the political shadows." Salmond said, however, that someone else should lead the process forward, and he would not stand for renomination as leader at the SNP's annual conference in mid-November. "After that, I shall continue to offer myself as member for the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeenshire East." Salmond, who led the independence campaign, spoke earlier in the day to concede the result in the referendum. "Scotland has by majority decided not, at this stage, to become an independent country," he said. "I accept that verdict of the people, and I call on all of Scotland to follow suit in accepting the democratic verdict of the people of Scotland." In the end, the No campaign won clearly with 55.3 per cent of registered voters, versus 44.7 per cent who voted Yes.

Salmond praised the Yes campaign, which at that point had counted roughly 1.5 million votes, as a "substantial vote for Scottish independence." Report Typo or Error Send Feedback To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines . Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.

Question: Who is the leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party, and currently, the First Minister of Scotland?
Answer: ALEX SALMOND