Salmond: Fight Is For Home Rule

Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond has said he is not campaigning for another referendum but is fighting the Westminster election to win home rule.

Mr Salmond says he wants to see the realisation of the so-called vow'' of extra powers for Scotland that were promised by UK political parties ahead of the independence referendum.

He announced last month that he is a candidate for the SNP nomination for the Gordon constituency in Aberdeenshire in this year's general election.

The seat shares some areas with his Aberdeenshire East Holyrood constituency and is currently represented by Liberal Democrat Sir Malcolm Bruce, who is retiring in May.

In an interview with DC Thomson titles The Courier and The Press and Journal, Mr Salmond said: We are not campaigning for a second referendum - we've had a referendum,'' and added that the issue is a matter for the future.

Mr Salmond described home rule as control of all domestic affairs and taxation, with foreign affairs and defence reserved to Westminster.

He said there is massive evidence'' that is what Scotland wants.

The MSP told the titles: This Westminster election is about delivering to Scotland what was promised. Not a referendum, but what was promised in the referendum and the things that people are entitled to see.''

Mr Salmond, announced he was stepping down as first minister following the referendum, and was succeeded by Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's first female leader.

Last month he criticised the recommendations of the Smith Commission on more powers for Scotland which was set up in the wake of a No vote, saying it has not lived up to what was promised.

He said the way to guarantee the vow is to elect a block of SNP MPs to deliver it.