Alex Salmond ‘not contesting’ Danny Alexander seat

ALEX Salmond has dismissed reports that he was planning to stand against the Liberal Democrat cabinet minister Danny Alexander in next year’s General Election.

Mr Salmond ruled out contesting the seat of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, which is held by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Mr Alexander.

He said that he would stand in the North East, where he already represents a Holyrood constituency, if he decided to contest the Westminster election.

• Salmond ‘plotting to take Danny Alexander’s seat’

Mr Salmond said: “I have said on many, many occasions that my political home is in the north east of Scotland.

“Whatever else I do in politics would be in the north east of Scotland and I will be available to stand in the north east of Scotland in one capacity or another.”

Mr Salmond previously served as an MP for a North East constituency from 1987 to 2010.