Scotland: NO to Independence. 55.3% NO, 44.7% YES. Salmond resigns, woo hoo!

[the2real4mafol]

kowenicki said:

the2real4mafol said:
Also, two last things.

Salmond isn't going anyway unless he gets voted out in the next Scottish elections

And also that incredible turnout of 86% isn't probably happening again unless far more is done to get people involved and make it feel worthwhile to them. If anything it proves people do care about politics but most of it is dictated to them and they aren't really listened to as the establishment is very out of touch with society.

Really?

He has already resigned from the leadership of the SNP and as First Minister....

Scottish referendum: Salmond to go after Scotland No vote

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Scotland Decides

• Scotland votes 'No' to independence
• Scottish referendum results Live
• In maps: How close was the vote?
• The morning after the No before

Alex Salmond is to step down as Scottish first minister after voters decisively rejected independence.

He will also resign as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) after the "No" side won Thursday's referendum by 2,001,926 to 1,617,989 for "Yes".

The national split of the vote was 55% for "No" to 45% for "Yes".

Mr Salmond said: "For me as leader my time is nearly over, but for Scotland the campaign continues and the dream shall never die."

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said the pro-Union Westminster parties would now deliver their campaign pledge to boost the powers of Scotland's devolved parliament.

Speaking from Bute House in Edinburgh, the first minister's official residence, Mr Salmond told journalists: "I am immensely proud of the campaign that Yes Scotland fought and particularly of the 1.6 million voters who rallied to that cause."

Mr Salmond, 59, who has led his party for a total of 20 years, also said there were a "number of eminently qualified and very suitable candidates for leader", although the current deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon, also deputy SNP leader, is seen as a clear frontrunner.

Ms Sturgeon said she could "think of no greater privilege than to seek to lead the party I joined when I was just 16," but insisted she would not make an announcement today.

She added: "Alex Salmond's achievements as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister are second to none. He led the SNP into government and has given our country a renewed self confidence."

Mr Salmond said he would resign as SNP leader at the party's conference in November, and then stand down as first minister when the party elected its next leader in a membership ballot.

But Mr Salmond, who will stay on as MSP for Aberdeenshire East, added: "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."

Mr Salmond also used his resignation statement to question Mr Cameron's more powers pledge.

when i posted as i far as i knew, he said he wouldn't resign but instead finish as term of office. He must of changed his mind. 

Also why good riddance?! He was far better than any of the twats who are supposed to represent England. At least he tried to keep to his word

I just really hope people make westminster keep to their word about federalisation. Politicians are just wankers for trying to shaft people already