ALEX Salmond is stepping down as Scotland's First Minister and SNP leader after his country voted against independence.
Mr Salmond announced his resignation as David Cameron promised new powers for Scotland – and a shake-up of the UK, Sky News reported.
Fifty-five per cent of Scots chose to stay part of the UK in the referendum on independence while 45 per cent were in favour of going it alone.
Mr Salmond said: "My time as leader is nearly over but for Scotland... the dream shall never die."
The first minister said now was the "opportunity to hold Westminster's feet to the fire on the vow they have made to further meaningful power to Scotland".
He said he had spoken to the Prime Minister, who had "reiterated his intention to proceed as he outlined".
"But he would not commit to a second reading vote by March 27 on a new Scotland bill", which he said was a clear promise set out by Gordon Brown in the campaign.
Mr Salmond said some people would be "incandescent" if they saw "slippage" from a timetable clearly set out just a few days ago.
Speaking before Mr Salmond's announcement, Mr Cameron reiterated his promise of new powers for Scotland.
But he also warned that it was time the "millions of voices of England" were heard as he unveiled a substantial shake-up for the whole of the UK, with new powers for Wales and Northern Ireland and greater influence for England's MPs over English law.
The Prime Minister said the new powers he, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband had promised Scotland in the dying days of campaigning would be "honoured in full".
And he said work would start on a "full and fair settlement for all of the UK" in what appeared to be a shift towards a more federalist UK.
Labour dismissed Mr Cameron's plans as "knee-jerk" and Mr Miliband set out his own proposal for a constitutional convention and political reform of Westminster.
