Nicola Sturgeon is a clear favourite to replace Alex Salmond

Politicians in England and Scotland are set to consider how the UK will be governed in the future after voters rejected Scottish independence.

In the wake of the referendum, Alex Salmond announced on Friday that he would resign as SNP leader at the party's conference in November, and will stand down as first minister when the party elects its next leader in a membership ballot.

He told journalists there were a "number of eminently qualified and very suitable candidates" to replace him, with his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, seen as a clear favourite.

Robert Pigott reports.