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ALEX SALMOND was last night savaged by opponents after suggesting Scotland can declare independence without taking a vote on the issue again.

Days after decisively losing in the Scottish referendum, the First Minister shocked rivals by suggesting that a vote would not be needed to make a unilateral declaration of independence.

The First Minister hinted strongly on Sunday morning that a referendum was only one route to independence.

He said that a parliament with more powers could declare an end to the 300-year old Union without seeking a mandate from the people or authority from Westminster.

Salmond carefully stated that a repeat of a "once in a generation" referendum could be avoided if circumstances change.

He said: “There are a number of political opportunities coming up. For many, many years, a referendum route wasn’t the chosen route of the Scottish National Party or Scotland. "

"For many years, there was a gradual attitude to independence.

"That is to say that you establish a parliament and you establish successively more powers until you have a situation where you’re independent in all but name, and then presumably you declare yourself to be independent.

"Many countries have proceeded through that route; there is a parliamentary route where people can make their voice heard as well, so a referendum is only one of a number of routes."

The move was pounced on by fundamentalist nationalists with former party deputy leader Jim Sillars stating that an SNP majority in the 2016 Holyrood election would be a mandate for separation.

Sillars tweeted: "Let Yes assert new indy rule – no more ref – majority votes and seats at Holyrood 2016 enough."

But the idea was immediately condemned by Scottish Labour as undemocratic and illegal.

Johann Lamont said such a move would be an attempt to "overthrow the will of the Scottish people in some sort of coup".

The Scottish Labour leader said: “Having decisively lost a democratic referendum on independence, Alex Salmond is now suggesting the nationalists can ignore the sovereign will of the Scottish people.

“His words are fundamentally undemocratic and an insult to the people of Scotland."

“Salmond may regret the result but this reaction is dangerous and wrong. Alex Salmond lost. It is not for him to try to overthrow the will of the Scottish people in some sort of coup.

“He cannot react to the result by giving Scotland a row.

“I trust his likely successor Nicola Sturgeon will distance herself from these disgraceful remarks. While the rest of us seek reconciliation Alex Salmond seeks more division. Scotland will not have it.”

Jackson Carlaw of the Scottish Conservatives said: "The First Minister's grace in defeat barely lasted a day. Going by the extraordinary outburst there is anything but acceptance in the Salmond household."

He added: "Scotland spoke very clearly and quite decisively, the majority made clear that the "sovereign will" of the people of Scotland is to remain in a UK in which further responsibilities are devolved to Holyrood.

"Mr Salmond misunderstood the will of the majority during the campaign and now he seeks to misrepresent it in defeat."

Willie Rennie, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, said: "I think the First Minister needs to calm down and take a bit of a breather."

The debate on how to stage the next step to independence will now frame the contest for Salmond's successor as leader.

Hardcore SNP members have stated that they will only endorse leadership candidates who will offer an immediate re-run of an independence referendum as soon as possible.

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