Alex Salmond’s still game

When Alex Salmond lost his Gordon constituency to the Scottish Conservatives last month he declared: “You’ve not seen the last of my bonnets and me.”

Few doubted this, and the former SNP leader today subtly underlined the point that he intends to remain a major player in UK politics.

Rejecting the overtures from I’m A Celebrity…get Me Out Of Here! (for the second time), might not seem significant, but it demonstrates that a six-figure deal to jump around the jungle and succeed Gogglebox’s Scarlett Moffatt as a winner is not remotely in his sights. But the fact that he was asked, underlines his watchability with UK viewers. Quite simply, Salmond remains box office.

Former MPS Edwina Currie, Lembit Opik and Neil Hamilton have all been huge hits on the ITV show, but their political careers were over. Mr Salmond added: “I would not wish to take the place of Theresa May, who should be available by October or so.”

Loud and clear, the former First Minister is roaring: “I am still in the game.” The question is: in what guise will he return?