Salmond marks US Independence Day

Independence Day has come early for Alex Salmond – with a reception to mark the anniversary of the United States’ independence from Great Britain.

The First Minister, who hopes to mark Scotland’s own independence day in 2014, was invited to attend a reception at the US Consulate in Edinburgh last night.

The US Declaration of Independence was approved by Congress on July 2, 1776, although it was not formally adopted until two days later, with celebrations across the US every July 4 to mark the event.

Mr Salmond has hailed the document’s links with the Declaration of Arbroath, Scotland’s own declaration of independence in 1320. Speaking ahead of the reception, Mr Salmond said that the “unique relationship” between Scotland and the US was now “stronger than ever”.

“This week, 236 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, US citizens will celebrate the most important date in their calendar,” he said.

“There is a special connection to Scotland in that the US Senate has acknowledged the profound influence of Scotland’s Declaration of Arbroath in shaping the US’s own Declaration.”