( abbr the SNP )
a political party formed in 1934 whose aim is to achieve independent government for Scotland (not simply a separate Scottish parliament within the UK). Its leader since 2004 has been Alex Salmond (1954– ), who also led the party between 1990 and 2000. Five of its candidates were elected as Members of Parliament in the 2001 general election in Britain. In 2003 27 of its representatives were elected to the Scottish Parliament .