Alex Salmond will lead the SNP in the high-profile battle over Britain’s European Union membership after being made the party’s foreign affairs spokesman.
Speculation over the role that the newly-elected Gordon MP would play at Westminster was ended when he was given the key brief yesterday.
The former first minister vowed that the SNP’s voice on the international stage would be “pro-Europe, pro-developing world, against military adventurism”.
The UK’s EU membership will be one of the most significant issues in this parliament, with Prime Minister David Cameron committed to a re-negotiation and referendum on whether to quit within the next two years.
SNP leaders have previously indicated they believe a fresh mandate for a second Scottish independence referendum could be triggered if Britain leaves the EU despite a majority of Scots voting to stay.
Moray MP Angus Robertson, who was re-elected as leader of the greatly enlarged SNP group at the Commons on Tuesday, previously held responsibility for foreign affairs.
Writing on social media, Mr Salmond said: “Delighted to accept the appointment from Angus Robertson as the SNP’s foreign affairs spokesperson at Westminster.
“Foreign affairs, especially Europe, will be among the dominating issues in this parliament. Promoting Scotland’s cause in the international arena is a key priority for the SNP.
“We’ll provide a strong, consistent SNP voice which is pro-Europe, pro-developing world, against military adventurism.”
Mr Salmond rose to international prominence as the leader of the Scottish independence campaign which caught the attention of world leaders.
In his previous stint at Westminster, as MP for Banff & Buchan from 1987 to 2010, he described Nato’s intervention in Kosovo in 1999 as “unpardonable folly” and was a fierce critic of the war in Iraq.
More recently, he expressed admiration for “certain aspects” of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s leadership, notably his restoration of “Russian pride”.
It was also announced yesterday that Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford would remain as work and pensions spokeswoman, SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie would be reappointed as economy spokesman, and Edinburgh South West MP Joanna Cherry was named justice and home affairs spokeswoman.