Former First Minister Alex Salmond today revealed he isn’t interested in another referendum, but wants to fight the Westminster election to secure home rule for Scotland.
Speaking during his first sit-down interview since the referendum, he told the Press and Journal that he was determined to deliver “The Vow” – in full.
He looked like a man on a mission, perhaps even with a new lease of life after the devastating referendum defeat, but he revealed that another referendum was not on the agenda for him.
He fixed us with that familiar steely look and in slow, measured tones, so that the impact would really sink in, the man who led Scotland to the brink of independence revealed: “We are not campaigning for a second referendum – we’ve had a referendum.
“Another referendum is a matter for the future.”
He appeared to be drawing a clear line in the sand for those frustrated Yes voters who still harbour hopes of a swift referendum rematch, if the right opportunity presents itself.
For Mr Salmond, only real home rule for Scotland will do following The Vow – and power over virtually everything.
“Home rule is control of all domestic affairs and taxation – reserved to Westminster would be foreign affairs and defence. The constitution is a joint aspect anyway,” he said.
Away from the trappings of power, and the inevitable entourage which always followed, he looked relaxed and comfortable in his home surroundings of sleepy Strichen.
Fresh from a complete break at Christmas, away from the pressures of running Scotland, he looked like a man with a new purpose.
His burning passion now is to deliver in full The Vow promised by the Westminster leaders – and not a watered-down version.
Mr Salmond will contest the Gordon seat as a prospective Westminster MP.
In his inimitable style, he was scornful and mocking about The Vow from Messrs Cameron, Miliband and Clegg – their trump card just before the referendum vote.
With predictions that the SNP, still flying high after a 45% Yes vote, could return to the Commons with 40 MPs after this year’s general election – many at Labour’s expense – Mr Salmond believes he could be well-placed to call the shots, if elected.
If it is a hung parliament, with no party having a majority, as many observers predict, he could, indeed, be a power-broker with a big say in who runs the UK.
There would be a price to pay for SNP support in any Commons coalition, of course – he would demand The Vow in full to the point of virtual independence.
His strategy was unfolding far from the grandeur of the Palace of Westminster or Bute House, for that matter.
We were huddled together in an upstairs function room at the White Horse hotel in his beloved Strichen.
But we sensed that in his mind’s eye he was in Westminster, delivering retribution to independence referendum “saboteurs”.
Much debate since the Smith Commission proposals has focused on generous, almost “blank cheque” pledges, made to the Scottish electorate by panic-stricken Westminster leaders when they thought they were about to lose the referendum.
They have also faced accusations that they are now trying to wriggle out of some of it or will be forced to compromise, due to party self-interest.
Mr Salmond was unequivocal over what The Vow actually meant, and believes the commission falls well short.
And he sighed with exasperation over the antics of the “three amigos” from Westminster.
He said: “It is real home rule, devo-to-the-max or as near-federalism as we can get in the UK – that is what was promised and what should be delivered.
“There is massive evidence that’s what Scotland wants.”
This was a clear message from the former first minister that virtual independence in a federal-style arrangement was preferable, for the foreseeable future, than another shot at a referendum.
“One thing that’s happened in this campaign is that it’s finally been resolved how Scotland can become independent. That is now the gold standard,” said Mr Salmond.
“The decision on whether that will be part of the SNP’s manifesto is for Nicola Sturgeon to make. And she will decide that.
“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 cited the Liberal Democrats describing The Vow as Home Rule and former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown talking about near-federalism.
Mr Brown’s dramatic intervention appeared to kill off the Yes campaign at the end.
“Gordon Brown’s role in that was absolutely crucial, because he stood as the guarantor – as he claimed – of The Vow,” said Mr Salmond.
“And, therefore, it was very, very significant.
Scotland was apparently being offered great powers by voting No.
“I am determined – we should all be determined – that these promises are now redeemed.
“The way to do that is that the real guarantor of the vow – the real one can’t be Gordon Brown because he’s gone into retirement – is to elect a block of SNP MPs to deliver that.
“They are the real guarantors of The Vow. That’s what the campaign is. Nothing else – it’s to deliver what was promised to us.”
Read more from Alex Salmond’s exclusive interview:
Alex Salmond: “Yes campaign would have won if Gordon Brown hadn’t intervened”
VIDEO: Alex Salmond says Yes would have won if Alistair Darling had stayed in charge