Salmond launches new political party

Alex Salmond, the former First Minister, today announced his intention to run for May’s Scottish Parliament election as the leader of the new Alba Party.

The new pro-indy party, founded by Laurie Flynn, hopes to create a “supermajority” in Holyrood by encouraging Yes supporters to back them on the list.

In a press statement, the Alba Party set out its aims as follows:

• National independence for Scotland as an immediate necessity and overwhelming priority achieved by democratic means through a vote of people resident in Scotland
• The promotion of all Scottish interests and the building of an economically successful, environmentally responsible and socially just independent country through the pursuit of a social democratic programme
• The acceptance by the Scottish people of a written constitution for the newly independent country; defending the rights, liberties and equality of all citizens before the law.