British PM promises new powers as Scotland First Minister Salmond quits

British Prime Minister David Cameron has promised new powers for Scotland after voters opted to remain in the UK - but those powers will not involve Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond who resigned late on Friday afternoon. Mr Cameron said the new powers promised to the Scottish people in the dying days of the referendum campaign would be “honoured in full” and unveiled a substantial shake-up of powers for the whole of the UK, suggesting new powers for Wales and Northern Ireland and greater influence for England’s MPs over English law. He said work would start on a “full and fair settlement for all of the UK” in what will clearly be a shift towards a more federalist UK.

We have heard the settled will of the Scottish people

David Cameron

Mr Salmond called for unity and the unionist parties to deliver on their pledge of more powers in the immediate aftermath of his defeat. However, just hours later he announced he was quitting and said: “I am immensely proud of the campaign that Yes Scotland fought and particularly of the 1.6m voters who rallied to that cause.” Mr Salmond added 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, would be seen as a clear frontrunner.

For me as leader my time is nearly over but for Scotland the campaign continues and the dream shall never die

Scotland’s outgoing First Minister Alex Salmond

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