The SNP's former Westminster leader has officially launched his bid to become MSP for Edinburgh Central by declaring his loyalty to Nicola Sturgeon.
Angus Robertson faces a battle with party colleague Joanna Cherry to win the nomination for the seat, which is the Nationalists' number one target at next year's Holyrood election.
Cherry, who is currently MP for Edinburgh South West, is viewed by many in the SNP as being closer to former leader Alex Salmond than Sturgeon.
Edinburgh Central was won by then Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson in 2016 by just 610 votes, but she will not be standing for re-election.
The fight to secure the SNP candidacy in the seat is seen as a proxy war between the Salmond and Sturgeon camps in the party.
Robertson lost his Westminster seat at the 2017 general election but remains close to Sturgeon and other SNP ministers.
In a video filmed outside the Scottish Parliament and shared on Twitter, Robertson said: "At present Ruth Davidson holds this seat for the Tories with a tiny 610-vote majority and I believe that I can win here with the support of SNP members and voters of all parties who don't want to see the area represented by a pro-Brexit MSP."
Mr Robertson also talked up his connections to the area, saying: "I grew up in Edinburgh Central, I work here today, this is where I live.
"I understand the different issues that matter to people and communities right across Edinburgh Central.
"If you want to elect a hard-working, local MSP, with high-profile national experience who will support First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and deliver independence, please support my campaign.
"Together, we can win Ruth Davidson's seat from the Tories and secure a pro-independence SNP majority at Holyrood."
Cherry said on Twitter: "The trouble with pitching for Holyrood 2021 as the anti-Brexit candidate is that Brexit has happened despite the best efforts of those of us who fought it tooth and nail.
"The issue now is how we secure independence and Scotland's future in Europe."
