Our Politics newsletter is now daily. Join thousands of others and get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

FORMER First Minister Alex Salmond could cause a headache for Nicola Sturgeon - after confidently predicting that she will call for another independence referendum in 2018.

The MP for Gordon, who resigned in the immediate aftermath of the 55%-45% victory for the No campaign in 2014, was speaking to Russia Today ahead of the two year anniversary of that vote.

He told the channel that Theresa May's Brexit strategy was doomed to fail.

(Image: Getty)

Salmond said that the differing views around the Tory PM's cabinet table meant that they had no idea what the final effect of leaving the EU would be.

Salmond said that he thought Sturgeon would 'give Theresa May the opportunity to embed Scotland in the negotiation with the European Union to keep Scotland in the single marketplace.'

And he said that he believed the Tory government would not be 'wise' enough to take that course of action, his reading of the situation was that: "I expect, there will be another Scottish independence referendum in roughly two years time."

Salmond's bold prediction flies directly in the face of the softly-softly approach of his successor, who hasn't committed to a second poll at all, far less a date for one.

The SNP recently launched a 'listening exercise' seeking the views of Scots on the independence question. The Scottish Government's programme of bills included a referendum bill, but one that would sit on the backburner for the foreseeable future.