Alex Salmond has been urged to let go of “conspiracy theories” about why Scotland did not vote for independence and accept that he lost the referendum.

The First Minister was tackled by opposition politicians as the Holyrood Parliament met for the first time since the count.

Ruth Davison, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, told him: “I understand that is how many are feeling who voted for Independence. Hurt, grief, loss. But that pain is not healed by people crying foul and that grief is not ministered to by talk of a conspiracy.”

Her words were echoed by the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Willie Rennie, who accused Mr Salmond of trying to discredit the result with a “range of bogus distractions, claims and allegations.”

Mr Salmond resigned the leadership of the SNP hours after Scotland had delivered its 55-45 per cent verdict in favour of staying in the union.

In pictures: Alex Salmond's campaign for Scottish independence Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Alex Salmond's campaign for Scottish independence In pictures: Alex Salmond's campaign for Scottish independence The campaign for independence Alex Salmond stepped down as Scotland's First Minister and the leader of the SNP after the country voted no to independence Getty Images In pictures: Alex Salmond's campaign for Scottish independence The campaign for independence Alex Salmond said he accepted 'the democratic verdict of the people' PA In pictures: Alex Salmond's campaign for Scottish independence The campaign for independence First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond chats to school children at Strichen Primary School in Strichen PA In pictures: Alex Salmond's campaign for Scottish independence The campaign for independence Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond delivers his final independence speech to supporters in Perth EPA In pictures: Alex Salmond's campaign for Scottish independence The campaign for independence On the last day of campaigning before the polling booths open, the SNP leader wrote to voters in a final attempt to convince them to vote for independence Getty In pictures: Alex Salmond's campaign for Scottish independence The campaign for independence It was decided to give Alex Salmond an extra year in government AFP In pictures: Alex Salmond's campaign for Scottish independence The campaign for independence Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling taking part in a live television debate in Glasgow on 25 August Getty Images In pictures: Alex Salmond's campaign for Scottish independence The campaign for independence Alex Salmond during the live television debate with Alistair Darling at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on 5 August in Glasgow Getty In pictures: Alex Salmond's campaign for Scottish independence The campaign for independence Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond presents the White Paper for Scottish independence Getty Images

Two days later, angered by the apparent failure of Westminster’s main parties to agree on how to deliver the new powers for the Scottish Parliament during the campaign, he claimed in a BBC Sunday Politics interview: “It’s the people who were persuaded to vote No who were misled, who were gulled, who were tricked effectively.”

In a separate interview on the same day, he appeared to blame the over 55s in Scotland, who voted heavily in favour of the union, for letting down younger voters who wanted independence. He told Sky News: “Scots of my generation and above should really be looking at themselves in the mirror and wonder if we by majority, as a result of our decision, have actually impeded progress for the next generation which is something no generation should do.” Earlier, at the height of the campaign, Mr Salmond reacted angrily to warnings from business leaders that prices might rise in an independent Scotland. He claimed that the warnings from a range of employers including John Lewis, Asda, BP and Standard Life had been “orchestrated” by Downing Street.