Alex Salmond takes aim at SNP's independence plans

Former First Minister Alex Salmond has said the SNP's plan for an independence vote in 2023 “does not look particularly credible” or “particularly likely”.

In an interview with The Herald, the Alba Party leader complained the SNP had no clear strategy for independence, particularly with regards to acquiring the necessary permissions from Westminster to hold a referendum.

Salmond said: “It seems unlikely that Boris Johnson is going to meekly say to the Scottish Government: ‘Well done, chaps, you can now have a referendum and I am changing my mind on the issue.’ 

“Therefore, you have to campaign to change his mind and have a series of contingencies as to what you do if Westminster says no.”

Salmond said the independence movement must “bend Westminster to the will of the Scottish people”, and called for a convention of pro-independence politicians to be formed following the May local election, which Salmond says would be the “instrument by which the campaign to secure the democratic test for Scotland will be led”.

Salmond said that twelve months out from the last referendum, the Scottish Government had acquired the necessary legislation, and had a date set, before adding: “There’s a huge amount of impatience among independence supporters because the latest promise of a referendum in 2023 looks pretty optimistic, to say the least.”