SPECULATION has been raised that Alex Salmond might be contemplating a return to Westminster.
It is claimed he would stand in the Gordon seat in a bid to hold David Cameron's "feet to the fire" and make sure the UK Government honours its commitment to transfer more powers to Holyrood.
While the First Minister has announced he is to stand down as First Minister following the No victory in the referendum, he has made clear he has no intention of withdrawing from politics.
Coalition sources have speculated that Mr Salmond, who was an MP from 1987 to 2010 and who is said to enjoy the cut and thrust of the Commons, could be considering a return to his old stomping ground.
One senior Whitehall insider claimed Angus Robertson, leader of the Nationalists at Westminster, had had a lower profile during the referendum than expected given his role as campaign co-ordinator.
"Salmond is intent on making sure the UK Government honours its commitment and he has declared that he wants to 'hold its feet to the fire'", a UK Government source said.
"A move to the Lords has been ruled out but a return to the Commons could be in keeping with this."
A Nationalist source insisted there was no substance to the speculation, stressing how the First Minister had made it clear to his constituents he would continue as MSP for Aberdeenshire East as long as they wanted him to.
A party spokesman said: "The First Minister has no plans to stand as MP for Gordon."
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