Alex Salmond named SNP’s foreign affairs spokesman

Alex Salmond is set to be appointed the SNP's foreign affairs spokesperson at Westminster. Picture: Getty

The appointment of the former First Minister and leader of the SNP comes less than a week after Mr Salmond was returned as one of 56 Nationalist MPs in the general election.

Mr Salmond had announced his intention to stand for Westminster after quitting as party leader following the referendum on Scottish independence.

Mr Salmond stood for election in the Gordon constituency, seeing off competition from Liberal Democrat candidate Christine Jardine.

The SNP is now the third largest party at Westminster, with the Liberal Democrats in fourth with just eight seats after a general election to forget that saw big guns such as Danny Alexander, Vince Cable, Jo Swinson, Charles Kennedy and Ed Davey lose out.

Mr Salmond’s appointment comes as talk of an in / out referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union remains at the forefront of UK politics.

The new Conservative government has pledged to hold a vote by the end of 2017.

Earlier this week, Angus Robertson was re-elected as the SNP’s leader at Westminster with deputy SNP leader Stewart Hosie named second in command and Mike Weir appointed chief whip.

Other appointments include Mr Hosie as Economy spokesperson; Eilidh Whiteford as Work and Pensions spokesperson and Edinburgh South West MP Joanna Cherry as Justice and Home Affairs spokesperson.

Ms Whiteford has also been appointed Westminster Group Executive Secretary while newcomer Kirsten Oswald - who defeated Jim Murphy in East Renfrewshire - and Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart have been named members of the executive group.

Mr Robertson is expected to name further appointments later this week.