ALEX Salmond has fuelled speculation he will stand for Westminster in next May's general election.

He said on the BBC's Question Time last night he has not made up his mind about a bid to return to the Commons.

Mr Salmond said he had "absolutely decisively" not made up his mind, but agreed that the door was not closed. He served as an SNP MP between 1987 and 2010 for Banff and Buchan.

Mr Salmond was asked by presenter David Dimbleby whether he would consider a return to Westminster.

He said: "The answer to your question David, absolutely decisively I can tell you I haven't

made up my mind. So you'll have to wait and see.

"But I tell you what, when I do make up my mind, invite me back on to Question Time and I'll tell you why I did it."

He was asked: "So it is not a closed door?" Mr Salmond replied: "You can take that from what I have just told you David, that's right".

Since announcing his resignation as First Minister the day after Scots voted to reject independence in the referendum, Mr Salmond has faced growing speculation about a possible return to Westminster.

He will be replaced as SNP leader and First Minister by Nicola Sturgeon next month. It has been suggested Mr Salmond would consider running in the Gordon constituency,

which overlaps with his Holyrood seat. Gordon is currently held by the veteran Liberal Democrat Sir Malcolm Bruce who is standing down.

In 2010, Sir Malcolm had a majority of 6,748 with the SNP in second place.