Independence for Scotland is the “way the wind is blowing”, former first minister Alex Salmond has said.
Exactly a year after the referendum, Mr Salmond said it is inevitable that Scotland will leave the UK at some point.
The former SNP leader spoke as he signed copies of The Dream Shall Never Die – his book about the referendum campaign – in Glasgow.
Since the referendum, support for the SNP has surged, with the party winning all but three of the 59 seats in Scotland in May’s general election – which also saw Mr Salmond return to Westminster as the MP for Gordon.
Membership of the party, which is now led by Nicola Sturgeon, is more than 110,000 while polls suggest the SNP will win another majority in next year’s Holyrood elections.
When asked if independence is now inevitable, Mr Salmond said: “Yes. It’s the way the wind is blowing.”
Prime Minister David Cameron used the first anniversary of the independence referendum to confirm his government would act to ensure the Scottish Parliament is a permanent part of the UK’s political landscape.
The Conservatives will bring forward an amendment to the Bill aimed at strengthening the language about the permanence of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government.
The changes will also put in legislation that Holyrood can only ever be abolished if this is backed by the Scottish people in a referendum.
Mr Cameron said the Bill would make Holyrood “one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world”.
But Mr Salmond said the Tory leader had had to be “dragged kicking and screaming” to make the changes.
The former SNP leader insisted: “It’s the Scottish people which make the Parliament a permanent institution. David Cameron has just been dragged kicking and screaming.”
He added: “What the Scottish people would say to him is implement the promises and commitments, the vow, that was made last year. Then he’ll be able to show his face in Scotland.”