LONDON: Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond was within touching distance of his lifelong dream of independence, but after defeat in the referendum, he decided to bow out on Friday.

The feisty politician has been the face of Scottish nationalism for more than 20 years and spearheaded a campaign that almost broke up the United Kingdom.

But after the “Yes” camp lost by a margin of nearly 10 percentage points, a tired-looking Salmond conceded that it was time to hand over to someone else.

“Obviously I wouldn’t have made the decision if there had been a `Yes’’ vote,” he told a press conference in Edinburgh.

He will step down as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in November and as first minister around the same time, but will keep his seat in the Scottish parliament.

Salmond said the dream of more power for Scotland would continue without him, as part of an accelerated devolution settlement currently being negotiated with London.

“For me as leader, my time is nearly over. But for Scotland, the campaign continues and the dream shall never die,” the 59-year-old said.

The rhetoric was typical of Alex Salmond, who fired up crowds throughout the campaign with his promise to “break the shackles” of the 307-year-old union with England.

Despite the defeat, Salmond will go down in history as the politician who returned the energy to British politics -- and helped create a new type of United Kingdom.

Scotland was promised sweeping new powers if it voted to stay in the union, powers which Prime Minister David Cameron has now also promised to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The premier paid tribute to Salmond, saying: “Alex is a politician of huge talent and passion. He has been an effective first minister and always fights his corner.

“While we disagree profoundly about his goal of a separated Scotland, and many other things, I respect and admire his huge contribution to politics and public life. “ “Made in Scotland”: Alexander Eliott Anderson Salmond was born on Dec 31, 1954, in Linlithgow, near Edinburgh, and graduated in economics and mediaeval history from St Andrews University.

He worked as an economist with the Royal Bank of Scotland before entering the British parliament, but found his calling when in 1990 he took over leadership of the SNP.

Four years before Tony Blair, the former prime minister, would do something similar to create “New Labour”, Salmond steered the SNP towards the political centre and prepared to do battle.

David Torrance, author of “Salmond: Against the Odds”, said both Salmond and Blair were more pragmatic than dogmatic. Their slogan could be:“Whatever works”.

In the first elections for the devolved Scottish parliament in 1999 -- created under Blair’s leadership -- the SNP lost out to Labour and Salmond quit as leader.

He said his decision was “forever”, but was re-elected in 2004 saying: “I changed my mind.”

He was rewarded with power, being elected first minister of a minority SNP government in 2007, and then in 2011 won an absolute majority -- and the promise of a referendum.

Politician of a generation -Salmond’s charisma was hugely effective on the campaign trail, but disguised what aides called an “explosive temper” and a talent for the scathing political putdown.

His supporters praise his unflagging determination and his political know-how, while his opponents brand him arrogant and misogynistic with a penchant for populism.

Many on both sides agree that he is one of the most talented politicians of his generation.

Sociable in public, Salmond is discreet about his private life. His wife Moira is 17 years older than he is and is only rarely seen by his side. The couple have no children.

His passions are horse racing, good wine and Indian curry, along with football and that Scottish invention -- golf.

Published in Dawn, September 20th , 2014