Salmond slams ‘silly, arrogant’ Cameron in book

Alex Salmond has blasted David Cameron in his new book. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

In his book The Dream Shall Never Die, Mr Salmond criticises Mr Cameron’s reaction to the No vote in last year’s independence referendum.

The former first minister suggests the Tory leader’s speech outside 10 Downing Street on the morning of 19 September was triumphalist.

Mr Salmond attacks the Prime Minister for using the speech to announce his plan to ban Scottish MPs voting on England-only issues.

He writes that he watched Mr Cameron’s television address on the morning and realised “what must now be done”.

He writes: “As he struts out to say that Scottish reform must take place ‘in tandem with’ and ‘at the same pace as’ changes in England I immediately realise the significance. There was no mention of this last week when he was in a compete panic about the polls. I think you silly arrogant man, and look around the room.”

Mr Salmond – who is standing for Westminster in the Gordon constituency – says his team were too exhausted to realise “the door Cameron has just opened”. He adds: “I understand – no, I sense – what now must be done.”

The book, which will be published on Thursday, comes as the SNP gears up to win a record number of seats in May’s election. Polls indicate the Nationalists could send over 50 MPs to Westminster, with Labour facing near wipeout.

Mr Salmond’s latest attack on Mr Cameron came after he said he was “disgusted” with Mr Cameron’s decision to link further devolution for Scotland with English votes for English laws in the wake of the No vote.

The former SNP leader branded the Prime Minister “a Tory toff on a day trip” for his interventions in the debate.

In another extract, Mr Salmond names Robert Mackie as the Treasury civil servant he claims was responsible for allegedly leaking information to the BBC over RBS plans to relocate its HQ to England in the event of a Yes vote.

Mr Mackie was head of Scottish referendum communications at the Treasury at the time.