Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond has announced his plan to win a seat at Westminster in next year's British general election.
Mr Salmond announced that he is a candidate for the Scottish National Party nomination for the Gordon constituency in Aberdeenshire.
Speaking in Ellon in the constituency, he said that there is the "prospect of real power for Scotland" if the SNP wins a significant number of seats at Westminster.
He said that if "real power" cannot be exerted, Scotland faces the "bleak prospect" of further austerity.
Mr Salmond stood down as first minister and SNP leader after the Scottish people rejected independence in a referendum in September.
"What has struck me more than anything else, is that in the weeks since the referendum the people of Scotland have refused to give up on the hope," Mr Salmond said.
"For those who voted Yes, the possibility remains of real change. For many who voted No, they absolutely insist that the vow that was given to Scotland should be redeemed."
Mr Salmond is currently the MSP for the Aberdeenshire East constituency, which covers some of the same areas as the Gordon seat.
If elected in May, he will also continue to serve at Holyrood.
He said that if voters give him a "dual mandate" for both parliaments, he plans to donate one of his salaries to charity.
The Gordon seat is currently represented by Liberal Democrat Malcolm Bruce, who is retiring in May.
Mr Salmond, who was MP for Banff and Buchan between 1987 and 2010, said the northeast of Scotland has been his political home since entering politics.
