Alex Salmond

The throne of Elizabeth II sat atop the stone during her coronation in 1953 but it was returned to Scotland more than a quarter of a century ago.

Sturgeon has said there are "significant questions" about Salmond’s return to Scottish politics, as the first big name SNP politician defected.

Ex-first minister Alex Salmond says it is "time to move on" after announcing the launch of a new political party to run in May's Scottish Parliament elections.