DHAKA: Alex Salmond has claimed that Scotland could declare itself independent without a referendum in the future.

The Scottish first minister, who has said he is standing down after voters failed to back independence last week, said a referendum was the ‘best route’ to statehood, but added that there were others, reports The Times of India.

He said if the Scottish Parliament was given more powers until ‘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.

Salmond has previously said that he would accept the referendum result and that it was a ‘once in a generation’ event.

However, he said on Sunday that ‘there are always things can change circumstances’, saying if the UK voted to leave the European Union then Scotland or if the main UK parties failed to honour a pledge to devolve more power to Edinburgh then having another vote would be justified.

BDST: 2059 HRS, SEP 22, 2014