Alex Salmond brands Tory campaign “anti-Scottish”

Alex Salmond, pictured with Nicola Sturgeon in 2013, called the general election result a 'staging post' for independence. Picture: PA

The ex-SNP leader says the SNP will be challenging in every Scottish constituency next week after a poll suggested the Nationalists could take all 59 of Scotland’s seats. It could leave the Nationalists holding the balance of power as UK-wide polls indicate neither Labour nor the Tories will secure a majority.

Ms Salmond, who is planning a return to the Commons in the Gordon seat, repeated the SNP pledge never to work with the Conservatives - even if the party wins most votes and seats.

He said the Tory campaign in Scotland is “up against it” because of the “anti-Scottish line” being pursued by party chiefs south of the border.

“Who becomes Prime Minister is the one who can command a majority in the House of Commons - that is the rule - there is no other rule,” he told Sky News today.

“Whoever can command that majority is going to become Prime Minister. Nicola Sturgeon has outlined the SNP’s position on this very, very clearly.

“We will give no succour or support - formal or informal - to the Conservative party basically because of their anti-Scottish attitude over many years and their anti-Scottish campaign in this election.”

And after a poll this week suggested the Nationalists could win every Scottish seat, Mr Salmond said there is now no seat where they won’t be a threat.

“We think we’ve got a chance in every seat in Scotland and the message that Nicola Sturgeon is putting forward is one of national unity,” he said.

“I was in the Borders last night which would not normally be considered one of the great strongholds of the SNP - a huge meeting of 500 people in Hawick.

“There’s huge enthusiasm, even in constituencies which in normal times would have been considered beyond the SNP’s reach. I don’t think there’s a single constituency in the whole of Scotland where the SNP isn’t challenging hard and campaigning hard.”