It was an extraordinary and unforgettable time that was easily the best year of my life.

CNN: July 19, 2012 -- Updated 2229 GMT (0629 HKT)

Speaking outside Bute House in Edinburgh, after a meeting with First Minister Henry McLeish, he said his time spent as a minister had been "great times indeed, some of the best days of my life".

BBC: Galbraith announces political exit