SCOTTISH First Minister Alex Salmond resigned yesterday as the political classes of Holyrood and Westminster manoeuvred in the wake of Scotland's nail-biting independence referendum.

Scots voted No to independence by 55 per cent to 45 per cent in Thursday’s historic poll.

In the wake of the defeat, Alex Salmond said it was time for Scotland and the SNP to have a new leader who could take the devolution process forward.