ALEX Salmond has said his successors failed to capitalise on "golden opportunities" for Scottish independence. 

Speaking to a crowd in Glasgow's George Square during the Hope over Fear rally on Saturday, Salmond said he would not have resigned as first minister following the 2014 referendum if he knew Scotland would not be independent ten years on. 

“We’ve had ten years of Better Together promises that have been broken," he said. 

"'Vote No to stay in the EU, vote No to keep energy prices down, keep food prices down'.  

"All shattered by the reality of the past decade of successive Westminster Governments.

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"Sadly, my successors failed to capitalise on a succession of golden opportunities to advance the cause of independence.

"If I had knew ten years ago that Scotland would still not be independent then I would not have resigned.

"But as Scottish industry is closed down and Scottish pensioners are robbed of their winter fuel payments when they live in an energy rich nation that must now change.

"Independence has never been required more urgently. Independence is often about thinking independently and acting independently.

"Independence is not just a form of powers and legislation, but to act independently in regards to the constitution is a de facto move towards independence.

"That’s the way going forward to summon up pressure on the Westminster system.

"If there is a clear independence mandate after the next Scottish elections then that must be the time that Scotland reclaims its independence.”

It comes ahead of the ten-year anniversary of the 2014 independence referendum on September 18, which the BBC has marked with a new documentary about Salmond's relationship with Nicola Sturgeon. 

However, earlier this week Salmond hit out at the BBC's "venomous bias" against independence and described the documentary as a "soap opera history".