Alex Salmond said yesterday he has turned down the offer of a five-star trip to New York to campaign in the Gordon constituency in the general election.
Publishers Harper Collins have invited the former first minister across the Atlantic for a tour to promote his book, The Dream Shall Never Die.
The Aberdeenshire East MSP’s referendum diary climbed to number one in the Sunday Times UK bestseller list at the weekend.
However, Mr Salmond said he will instead be on the campaign trail in the north-east village of Newmachar.
He said: “Of course I would have loved to go to New York.
“My publishers were desperate for me to go after they the release of the best seller list across the UK. They thought we could make number one in Scotland – across the UK was a big and pleasant surprise.
“However I have always put the north east first throughout my entire time in politics and New York will just have to wait.”
It is understood that Mr Salmond will fulfill any promotional duties in the United States after the election.
In addition to campaign hustings in Newmills, Huntly and Ellon Mr Salmond has held local book signings in both Inverurie and Huntly.
Meanwhile, the SNP politician and Tory candidate for Gordon, Colin Clark, will not be among those attending an event on local housing issues at Inverurie Town Hall on April 7.
A spokesman for the former first minister said he had a prior engagement, therefore Banff and Buchan SNP Eilidh Whiteford would be taking his place at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations event. Banff and Buchan Conservative candidate Alex Johnstone will also be in attendance, along with Liberal Democrat candidate for Gordon, Christine Jardine, and Labour hopeful Braden Davy.