ALEX Salmond has vowed to continue fighting the cause of Scottish independence if the referendum produces a No vote.
The First Minister remains confident he will win on September 18 but in a rare reflection on life after a possible No result, he said that he would not be deflected from his belief in independendence.
He said yesterday the referendum was a once in a generation event - though he did not rule out a second vote on Scottish independence sooner, if it is rejected this year, but then the UK voted to leave the EU in any future referendum on Europe.
Speaking at a lunch event in Edinburgh, he said: "Will I continue to argue and espouse the case of Scottish independence? Yes, of course I will."
He said he would respect the referendum outcome, referring to a section of the Edinburgh Agreement, the deal paving the way for a legal referendum, which commits both the UK and Scottish governments to working in the best interests of the people of both countries whatever the result.
He added: "I've said on the record on many occasions that my view is that referendums are once in a generation opportunity.
"But if you are asking if I will be deflected in my belief that Scottish independence is the right way forward for the people of this country, then of course not."
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