Alex Salmond announces plans to step down: how the internet reacted
Alex Salmond has announced plans to step down as first minister for Scotland after the country voted against independence, stating "The country will benefit from new leadership."
Coral had already called this news – just weeks after the bookmaker also claimed that it called the royal pregnancy.
Alex Salmond is now 4/1 to resign on the back of Scotland's #novote #indyref pic.twitter.com/SR6F4dgaXP
— Coral (@Coral) September 19, 2014
In a statement, Salmond said: "I believe that in this new exciting situation, redolent with possibility, Party, Parliament and country would benefit from new leadership.
"Therefore I have told the National Secretary of the SNP that I will not accept nomination to be a candidate for leader at the Annual Conference in Perth on 13-15 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."
The news led to a mixed reaction on Twitter, based on both the side people took on the referendum as well as their political views.
Just popped into @Coral and put Glasgow on Alex Salmond to resign at 4/1. Not laughing now are we Al? #OneRuler — Elizabeth Windsor (@Queen_UK) September 19, 2014It turns out that @AlexSalmond's next play was to quit. Stepping down as Scotland's First Minister @theSNP conference in November. #indyref
— Graham Huband (@C_GHuband) September 19, 2014
I'm so sorry to see Salmond resigning in the wake of the No result. Say what you like about him, but this man loved & fought for Scotland. — Amanda Porrelli (@pandorasinbox) September 19, 2014Alex Salmond steps down as first minister of Scotland. Very principled and honourable stance. Very easily could have stayed on.
— Gary Duffy (@gary_d01) September 19, 2014
Alex Salmond has handled & conducted himself brilliantly recently. Only one to show integrity out of the big players in the referendum! — Stephen Swan (@Stephenswan) September 19, 2014Alex Salmond has resigned! Lets get someone who can actually do the job of running Scotland properly and is not totally incompetent
— Swarley (@Rusty_JDM) September 19, 2014