Alex Salmond has announced he will stand at the Scottish Parliament election with his new party - the Alba Party.
The Former First Minister will lead the Alba Party, which will field at least four candidates in the regional lists.
Chris McEleny, an SNP councillor in Inverclyde, has resigned from the party to stand in the West of Scotland for Salmond's new party.
Eva Comrie will stand in the Mid-Scotland and Fife region and Cynthia Guthrie in South of Scotland.
Journalist Laurie Flynn registered the party earlier this year with the aim of holding another independence referendum.
During his 445-word announcement Salmond said he wanted to create a super majority for independence in the Scottish Parliament come May.
Statement in full:
"Today I am announcing the public launch of a new political force - the Alba Party.
"Alba will contest the upcoming Scottish elections as a list only party under my leadership seeking to build a #supermajority for independence in the Scottish parliament.
"Over the next six weeks we will promote new ideas about taking Scotland forward giving primacy to economic recovery from the pandemic and the achievement of independence for our country.
"We expect to field a minimum of four candidates in each regional list and are hoping to elect Alba MSPs from every area of Scotland.
"Today I want to introduce you to the party to its aims and to some of our very first candidates.
"Today we are making an entirely positive statement and also asking people to come forward and give us support.
"Given the unique circumstances of this election campaign these messages are in video form. However I would like to introduce you to three of our candidates.
"Alba was founded by journalist Laurie Flynn who has provided a statement today for distribution. I have had discussions with Laurie and others from other list parties over the last few weeks but I am sure that it is the concept of ALBA which is the one most soundly based.
"The party’s strategic aims are clear and unambiguous - to achieve a successful, socially just and environmentally responsible independent country.
"The tactics are to stand on the regional list to secure the supermajority for independence in our Parliament.
We intend to contribute policy ideas to assist Scotland’s economic recovery and to help build an independence platform to face the new political realities.
"At the last election there were nearly one million wasted SNP votes on the regional list. Only four SNP MSPs were elected in that way.
"In yesterday’s Survation poll the SNP would elect NO regional seats at all from a million votes on the list. They would all be totally wasted independence votes.
"If Alba wins regional list seats the wasted votes end. The number of independence supporting MSPs in the Parliament could reach 90 or even more.
"The initiative for independence should then be led by the Parliament uniting the parties.
"Boris Johnson has already said No to the SNP proposals. He will find it much more difficult to say no to a Parliament and a country.
"And the independence debate will be recast not as the Tories against the SNP but Boris Johnson against Scotland’s Parliament representing Scotland’s people.
"Today Alba are hoisting a flag in the wind -planting our saltire on a hill.
"In the next few weeks we shall see how many will rally to our standard."
