Alex Salmond has refused to rule out a potential return to lead the SNP for a third time. 

The former First Minister, who helmed the party between 1990 and 2000 and then 2004 and 2014, said in politics one could "never say never". 

Speaking on his LBC phone-in programme about a hypothetical situation in which Sturgeon loses a second independence referendum, precipitating her resignation, he described his return to the nationalists' top role as "unlikely and far-fetched".

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He told host Iain Dale: "There's two things I'd say; firstly Nicola Sturgeon, I believe, will hold an independence referendum and win it, and will be the first First Minister of an independent Scotland.

"Secondly, if I remember correctly, even Jesus only had a second coming, I don't think I'm going to have a third coming as SNP leader."

Considering the SNP's current dominance at the Scottish Parliament, it is likely a return to the SNP leadership job would see him crowned him First Minister. 

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