Alex Salmond Says Scotland Could Declare Independence without Referendum

Alex Salmond, Scotland's First Minister, who stepped down from his post after 55 percent Scots voted No to separating from the United Kingdom, has warned that it could still happen without a referendum.

He said that if the Scottish Parliament was given all powers to run the government then Scotland was free in all manners that counted except in name. He said,  "You have a situation where you're independent in all but name ... then presumably, you declare yourself to be independent".

"Many countries have proceeded through that route," he said in an interview with Sky News' Murnaghan program, reports The Independent.

Salmond held the older generation responsible for voting for the union and said it was a matter of time before the population of Scotland will vote in one voice to secede from England.

He also said that if the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union and failed to devolve even one of the promised powers to Scotland then they were justified in declaring an independent Scotland.

Johan Lamont, the Scottish labor leader called Salmond's statements "undemocratic" and "an insult to the people of Scotland,"  and warned against overthrowing "the will of the Scottish people."

Opinions polls after Friday's verdict show economic concerns were the drivers for rejection of a completely independent Scotland and a majority believe another referendum should not be staged for at least 15 years, reports  The Telegraph.

Adam Tomkins, professor of public law at the University of Glasgow, said a unilateral declaration of independence would be illegal and "bonkers", reports The Independent.