{"id":3034,"date":"2014-12-08T12:37:44","date_gmt":"2014-12-08T12:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/?p=3034"},"modified":"2014-12-08T12:37:44","modified_gmt":"2014-12-08T12:37:44","slug":"scottish-leader-to-run-for-uk-parliament-in-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/index.php\/scottish-leader-to-run-for-uk-parliament-in-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Scottish leader to run for UK Parliament in 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"UK<\/a>Former Scottish nationalist leader Alex Salmond said on Sunday he would run for a seat in the British Parliament at next May\u2019s election in order to help ensure Scotland gets the extra powers it was promised.
\nSalmond, who stood down as First Minister of Scotland and Scottish National Party (SNP) leader last month after spearheading an unsuccessful campaign for Scottish independence, said his party would have an opportunity to wield significant power if the election result is as close as many expect.
\nIn a last-ditch attempt to shore up support for the United Kingdom days before a Sept. 18 referendum, Britain\u2019s three main political parties promised to give more powers to Scotland.
\nLast month, plans for the greatest transfer of powers to Scotland from the UK since 1999, including the authority to set income tax rates, were set out but the SNP has criticized them for not going far enough.
\n\u201cThe Westminster parties will concede as little as possible … it is up to us to make sure that Scotland gets what it is promised,\u201d Salmond, who was a member of the Westminster-based UK Parliament from 1987-2010, told a meeting of his local party.
\n\u201cWith so much at stake for Scotland, I think it is impossible to stand on the sidelines.\u201d
\nSalmond said he would run in Gordon in North East Scotland. The seat is currently held by Liberal Democrat Malcolm Bruce, who won it with a majority of more than 6,700 in 2010 but is stepping down at next year\u2019s election. The SNP candidate came second in 2010.
\nSince 55 percent of Scots voted to reject independence, the SNP has bounced back. Last month a poll by Ipsos-MORI showed the SNP, which has six seats in the UK Parliament, could win 54 of the UK Parliament\u2019s 59 Scottish seats next year.
\nThat would virtually wipe out the Scottish chapter of Britain\u2019s opposition Labour party, threatening its chances of unseating Prime Minister David Cameron and turning the SNP into the third party and potential kingmakers in a hung Parliament.
\n\u201cThe SNP and our progressive allies have moved into a commanding position in Scottish politics,\u201d 59-year-old Salmond said. \u201cIt is also likely there will be no overall majority in the Westminster Parliament … that offers the prospect of real power for Scotland.\u201d<\/p>\n

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