SNP firebrand Alex Salmond makes 'shoot from hip' LBC Radio debut

Unburdened by the office of the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond has promised that he will "shoot straight from the hip" on his new radio show. The SNP firebrand will debut his weekly slot on LBC at 16:00 (GMT) alongside host Iain Dale on 13 January.

"When I was First Minister of Scotland, there were times when I had to bite my tongue. However, now unburdened from office, I can shoot straight from the hip," the Gordon MP said.

"I am looking forward to discussing all of the issues and taking calls from every corner of these islands. It's going to be honest, straight-talking with a bit of fun thrown in."

LBC has promised that no topic will be off limits for the SNP's foreign affairs spokesman in the House of Commons.

The move comes after the station, a subsidiary of Global Radio, hosted a weekly call-in show for Nick Clegg for two years when he was deputy prime minister. LBC's Ask Boris [Johnson] and Phone [Farage] are currently regular slots.

Formerly "London's Biggest Conversation", the station went national on DAB radio in 2014 and rebranded itself as "Leading Britain's Conversation". Dale, Nick Ferrari, Nick Abbot and James O'Brien are some of LBC's best-known presenters.

LBC managing editor James Rea said: "Salmond is one of the most outspoken and straight-talking politicians, with in-depth knowledge of Westminster and Scottish politics, and we look forward to him joining our powerful line-up this year."