ALEX Salmond will play "a significant role for the SNP at Westminster," Angus Robertson has said as the Nationalist leader in the House of Commons was re-elected by the party's 56 MPs unchallenged.

 

Earlier this year, The Herald revealed that Mr Robertson had received a personal assurance from the former First Minister that he would not challenge his colleague for the Westminster group leadership.

The MP for Moray did not divulge what the ex-FM's role would be as he now has to work out who, within the SNP's significantly expanded team, gets which portfolio.

But he said: "There's going to be a role for every member of the SNP group at Westminster, including the former First Minister whose talents are recognised right across the House of Commons and I look forward to him playing a significant role for the SNP at Westminster."

One role that has already been mooted for Mr Salmond is that of the SNP's Europe spokesman given the UK Parliament is set to be dominated in its first 18 months or so by the Conservative Government's proposal to hold an in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union.

Mr Robertson noted: "Alex Salmond is one of the best known politicians in Europe. I'm delighted that he is one of the 56 members of the SNP Group. But you'll forgive me because further announcements about responsibilities will be made in due course."

It is thought the party leader will in the next few days have a series of meetings with his new colleagues to assess who should have which role.

However, some posts were confirmed.

Dundee MP Stewart Hosie, the SNP's deputy leader, has been appointed deputy group leader at Westminster, while Eilidh Whiteford, the MP for Banff and Buchan, becomes the group secretary. Mike Weir, the MP for Angus, has been made Chief Whip in charge of party discipline.

The MP, who unseated Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy less than a year after joining the party, has been handed a seat on its Westminster executive.

Kirsten Oswald, a human resources worker who only joined the SNP in June 2014 and won East Renfrewshire 11 months later, has been appointed to the group executive alongside long-serving MP Pete Wishart, who represents Perth.

The SNP group held its first meeting in the grand committee room in Westminster Hall at which Mr Robertson was re-elected leader.

He said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be re-appointed as group leader for this new, record-breaking group of SNP MPs. It is a real honour to continue in this job during such an exciting time.

"I am grateful today to have the support of my new colleagues, in addition to our party depute Stewart Hosie MP and former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond MP.

"We have been announced as Westminster's third largest party; meaning we are better placed to hold the UK Government to account."

Mr Robertson added: "Our MPs are committed to making Scotland's voice heard at every opportunity. Our MPs will continue to oppose the renewal of Trident, the Tories' unfair and punishing austerity agenda and we will press for new powers for Scotland."

Being the third party at Westminster, replacing the Liberal Democrats, will give the SNP more advantages.

Apart from a significant rise in so-called Short Money, public funds meant to help opposition parties with running their operations - this will rise from around £1 million over the parliament to £7m - the Nationalists can expect to sit on a raft of Commons committees and get two or three chairmanships. These are likely to be decided through so-called "usual channels" once the new Speaker has been elected next week.

However, while the Nationalists will get extra privileges on committees, it is likely that the Scottish Affairs Committee will, like all other committees, be made up in proportion to the size of the parties; meaning it will be dominated by English Conservatives.

Meantime, other new privileges will mean Mr Robertson will get the chance to hold David Cameron to account each week with two questions at Prime Minister's Question-Time. The SNP will also get called on all Government statements.

The group leader is to take over Nick Clegg's old office off the main committee corridor and the SNP whips will get the Lib Dems' previous berth off the MPs' Lobby. The party's MPs are also set to take over a floor of offices in the Commons, already dubbed the Nationalist Wing.