Salmond Takes Final Questions

Alex Salmond has made his final appearance at First Minister's Questions at Holyrood.

He used the half hour session to reflect on his government's achievements over the past seven years, dismissing suggestions from Labour that he's presided over failures in health and education.

MSP Jackie Baillie, who's leading questions for Labour at Holyrood while the party elects a new leader, admitted nobody could doubt his passion and love for Scotland. But she said he was "so blinkered by his passion for independence" that existing powers to tackle issues like poverty were "pushed into second place".

Mr Salmond responded, saying there have been "substantial achievements". He cited the re-introduction of free university education and the introduction of free school meals for children in primary 1-3 as his top two successes.

Later, while being questioned by Scottish Tory Leader Ruth Davidson, Mr Salmond also spoke of progress in educational attainment and public faith in the health service.

There was a moment of good humour at the start of the session, when Ms Baillie asked the First Minister to describe himself in one word.

He responded "No", attracting laughter from the chamber, before explaining that one word was not enough.

When asked who in his cabinet he would recommend to his successor, Nicola Sturgeon, he joked: "Over the years, the Labour Party have called for the resingation of each and every one of my Cabinet Secretaries.

"The only person they haven't called on to resign is me - and I'm the one who's resigning!."

Mr Salmond will officially stand down as SNP Leader at the party's conference in Perth tomorrow.

Current deputy Nicola Sturgeon was elected unopposed to take over.  She's expected to be voted in as First Minister at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.

Excerpt from Alex Salmond's last appearance at First Minister's Questions: