Alex Salmond admitted he was "no Donald Dewar"

Scottish Labour Leader Jack McConnell urged Mr Salmond to take a leaf out of Tony Blair's book and stand down as the MP for Banff and Buchan.

The first minister said he would stand down from the UK parliament at the next general election.

The heated exchanges came at the last question time before the summer recess.

Noting that former Prime Minister Mr Blair decided to quit as MP for Sedgefield to become a Middle East peace envoy, Mr McConnell asked: "Will the first minister respect this parliament and become a full-time MSP and similarly resign and have a by-election in Banff and Buchan?"

Can I say to the first minister, I might not have had as close a friendship with Donald Dewar as my colleague Wendy Alexander, but he is no Donald Dewar Jack McConnell MSP Scottish Labour leader

Mr Salmond, who is also the MSP for Gordon, said he would follow the practice of Scotland's original first minister, Donald Dewar, who was in a similar situation when he came to the Scottish Parliament.

The first minister also questioned Mr McConnell as to whether he would be joining former Labour MP and current MSP and peer George Foulkes in the House of Lords.

Mr McConnell said it was not him who wanted two jobs, adding: "Can I say to the first minister, I might not have had as close a friendship with Donald Dewar as my colleague Wendy Alexander, but he is no Donald Dewar.

"He should remember that."

And in a reference to Scotland's second first minister, Mr Salmond retorted: "I fully accept that I'm no Donald Dewar.