Alex Salmond told Holyrood that he leaves office with "a sense of optimism and confidence" yesterday as he resigned as Scotland's First Minister.

In a statement at the Scottish Parliament, Mr Salmond said it had been "the privilege of his life" to serve in the role for the past seven-and-a-half years.

He is making way for his deputy Nicola Sturgeon to take over and he said she would make an "outstanding" first minister.

Mr Salmond received a standing ovation from MSPs after delivering his final words, before being embraced by Ms Sturgeon.

The former SNP leader has left at a time when the Scottish electorate has become energised and engaged in politics again following the independence referendum.

Mr Salmond's resignation comes as a new Survation poll for the Daily Record gives the SNP record leads of support in both Westminster and Holyrood.

The survey showed the party had 45.8 per cent support in the coming general election with 23.9 for Labour, 16.7 Conservatives and 6.1 for

Lib Dems.

Meanwhile, support for SNP at Holyrood was 50 per cent in the constituency vote and 40.6 per cent in the regional vote, ahead of Labour at 23 and 20.3 per cent respectively.

"Any parting is tinged with some sorrow, but in this case it is vastly outweighed by a sense of optimism and confidence," he said.

"We have a new generation of citizens who understand that their opinion matters, who believe that their voice will be heard and who know that their vote can shape the society they live in.

"For all of us that should be a point of pride, a source of challenge."

Mr Salmond announced his intention to step down hours after losing the independence referendum in September.

Since then, speculation over Mr Salmond's political future has led to suggestions that he will return to Westminster.

He remains MSP for Aberdeenshire East, but he could stand for a seat in the Commons at the general election in May.

Ms Sturgeon will be formally appointed as First Minister during a selection process at Holyrood today and will be sworn in at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Thursday.