Alex Salmond has stunned the political world by announcing he will stand for a new pro-independence party at the Holyrood election.
The former first minister, who quit the SNP amid a bitter feud with Nicola Sturgeon, will attempt to make his political comeback for the little-known Alba Party.
He will be the party's leader and he will stand on the regional List in the North East.
Salmond is one of four candidates, including Chris McEleny, a councillor in Inverclyde.
If he is elected, it will be his third separate spell in the Scottish Parliament.
Alba Party was registered at the Electoral Commission this year.
The address provided is 1 Lochrin Square, 92-98 Fountainbridge Town In Edinburgh.
Journalist Laurie Flynn registered the party, whose aim is to deliver a super majority for independence.
Salmond, who led the country between 2007 and 2014, revealed his intentions in a statement released today.
Salmond was an SNP member for decades but left after it emerged the Scottish Government had investigated complaints of sexual misconduct against him.
The probe was ruled to be unlawful and destroyed his friendship with Sturgeon.
He was later charged with sexual offences but acquitted after a trial last year.
During a Holyrood Inquiry into the Government’s unlawful probe into him, Salmond alleged that Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell and chief of staff Liz Lloyd had been part of a plot to imprison him.
The Holyrood Inquiry ruled that Sturgeon had misled parliament, but a separate probe found she had not breached the ministerial code of conduct.
At a media conference, Salmond confirmed his candidacy and said Alba Party wanted to create a super majority for independence at Holyrood.
He said he would campaign with Sturgeon during another referendum, but said it was not the role of the new party to enter Government.
He also said Alba Party would field at least four candidates on each regional List.
The mission statement of the Alba Party says: "The Alba Party is led by the former First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond. The only party leader to have won an outright majority in the Scottish Parliament.
"We have a team of candidates from across society, with wide and various experience.Candidates of the calibre necessary to help rebuild and recover from the Covid pandemic, and to steer the country through the transition to independence.
"Today Alba is raising the flag, our Saltire, and planting it on the hill, flying high in the wind for all to see.Calling on those who care most about the future of Scotland and its people to rally round; to join the great endeavour, to rebuild our country, to restore our independence.To work in the service of a better nation for all."
