Alex Salmond confirms plans to stand for election again to resume campaign for independence

Alex Salmond - credit: David Anderson

Alex Salmond has confirmed that he intends to stand again in future elections following his shock defeat by a Tory candidate in June.

The former SNP leader has predicted another election will be held in about two years, and said he is ready to stand again and resume his ambition "to secure independence for Scotland".

"I’ve fought ten elections and won nine of them," he told Sky News.

"I’d like to make it nine out of 11 or 10 out of 11, rather than nine out of 10 lets put it that way."

He added: "My political ambition is the same that it has always been and that is to secure independence for Scotland.

"Despite a setback personally in the election the SNP still won a majority of Scottish seats.

"The Tories and the Labour Party would love to have won a majority of seats across the UK.

"I’ve been in politics for 30 years. We started with three MPs when I was elected in 1987 so 35 is not bad.

"We have a Scottish Parliament, an SNP first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, so I still think we are progressing towards that ambition of independence."

Salmond confirmed his long-held opposition to sitting in the House of Lords but did not rule out returning to Westminster or Holyrood.

"You just have to let political opportunities develop, particularly in some very uncertain times," he said.

"If I were to ask 'what is the date of the next general election'…nobody knows."

He said the current Westminster parliament "has probably got about two years to run or maybe just slightly more than that".

Salmond also promised some candid revelations at his Edinburgh Fringe show, in which he will host a series of interviews with surprise guests throughout the festival.

"I’ve got a bit of time on my hands, unexpectedly, so I have decided to put it to good use," he said.

"I’m not a standup comedian, but there are stories that you can tell and obviously there are more stories that you can tell out of office than you can in office.

"There will be a bit of story telling and there will be an interview with a different guest every day so it’s a different show every day.

"The guests won’t disappoint but they are top secret until people get there, they won’t know who the guest is until it is unveiled.

"They’re from the world of politics, show business and sport."