Salmond set to stand in the General Election

Alex Salmond has dropped the biggest hint yet that he plans to stand for Westminster after declaring he is not going to retire.

The First Minister will hand over to his deputy Nicola Sturgeon next week and is hotly tipped to stand for the SNP in the General Election in the north-east Scotland seat of Gordon.

Mr Salmond said he has a “decision to make” but then said he intends to offer himself for election.

The SNP leader also revealed he would use his forthcoming book on the referendum to hit back at world leaders and multinational companies that spoke out against independence.

Asked what the future held for him, Mr Salmond said: “I intend to continue to represent people in the north-east of Scotland if they wish me to do so, I don’t intend to retire, I intend to offer myself for election and we’ll see if people want to vote for me. The Westminster parties have great difficulties, and they may be an opportunity for Scotland.”

This week’s SNP conference in Perth will see Mr Salmond step aside as party leader to be replaced by his deputy of 10 years Miss Sturgeon.

She will then officially be installed as Scotland’s first female First Minister the following week.

It has been tipped that Mr Salmond will announce his intention to stand in the Gordon constituency during his address to conference on Friday.

Last week The Sunday Post revealed the First Minister will publish a book next April reflecting on his own referendum campaign.

He revealed he will address some of the controversies of the campaign, such as the intervention of Barack Obama and companies such as BP.

He explained: “I think things need to be said and what better than to use a book to say them. There is a lot of stuff to say, so much about referendum was great. Nobody said we would get 85% turnout in a referendum, nobody understood you could mobilise the ranks of people, but we did and that is great for the future of the country.

“But we will talk about the forces which were mobilised against Scotland, the companies, the corporate power inveigled by the Prime Minister to speak against Scottish independence, with what mandate from their shareholders?

“Perhaps we’ll ask questions of the BPs, Shells and Asdas of this world, what right they had to intervene in a democratic process without even so much as a by-your-leave from their shareholders.

“There will be a few other observations about international politicians who wanted to have their say on Scotland, well perhaps Scotland will have their say on them.”

He added: “But this is a book not about recriminations, this [referendum] has been a joyful, participative, electrifying process for Scotland and the platform we’ve built in terms of participation will serve this nation well in times to come.”

Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Gavin Brown said: “I’m sure this work will be an interesting read, and by the sounds of things could be a prime nomination for the Man Booker prize.

“I just hope the rumours about the Scottish Government sending a copy to every household in Scotland aren’t true.”

Mr Salmond was speaking to Clyde2 and TayAM for the “Scotland’s Talk-in” show which is broadcast today at 11am.