BRITAIN-SCOTLAND-POLITICS-INDEPENDENCE

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond (R) embraces new party leader Nicola Sturgeon (L) as he delivers his final speech as the leader of the Scottish National Party at the SNP Annual National Party Conference in Perth, Scotland on November 14, 2014. Scotland's ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) on Friday crowned a new leader who vowed to continue the fight for independence, despite defeat in September's referendum. First Minister Alex Salmond quit after the September ballot, in which 55 percent of voters said "No" to leaving the United Kingdom, and has now been replaced by his deputy Nicola Sturgeon. Delegates rubber-stamped Sturgeon's election as SNP leader at the party's annual conference in Perth -- she was the only candidate -- paving the way for her appointment as Scotland's first female first minister next week. AFP PHOTO/ANDY BUCHANAN (Photo credit should read Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)