Scottish council election: Salmond launches Alba Party election manifesto
- Published
Alex Salmond sets out Alba Party election priorities
Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond has launched the local council election manifesto of his independence-backing Alba Party.
The manifesto launch in Dundee included plans to tackle the cost of living crisis and how to "make life better for all households".
More than 100 Alba candidates will stand for election on 5 May.
The party was formed ahead of last year's Scottish Parliament election in which it did not win any seats.
Mr Salmond told the manifesto launch event that his party was on the verge of a political breakthrough.
He also set out plans to double the winter fuel payment for pensioners, cut household energy costs by a third and to offer free access to sporting facilities for under-18s.
Mr Salmond was joined by some of the party's candidates at the event at the Caird Hall in Dundee
Other policies in the party's manifesto include:
Freezing council tax
Expanding free school meals to all pupils
Increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week
Giving low income households an annual payment of £500
Mr Salmond said: "Every one of our 100 plus candidates will have key local and ward campaigning issues at the forefront of their own election campaigns.
"However, what is exciting about Alba is that we have a full set of national priorities which all our candidates represent.
"Given that it is likely that not a single one of Scotland's 32 local authority areas will fall under single party control, Alba voices in the council chambers will be a key importance in pushing key initiatives to take the country forward".
The former first minister and SNP leader predicted that his new party was on the verge of a political breakthrough in next month's council election
Mr Salmond said the party would "give priority and urgency" to Scottish independence, adding: "There can be no better illustration of the urgency of independence than the fact that fully one third of the households of Scotland are now facing fuel poverty in our land of energy plenty.
"Access to our own natural resources to secure clean, green and affordable energy for our people requires independence".
He also said that Alba "stands firm in protecting the sex based rights of women and girls and their hard won rights under law that are being jeopardised by the Scottish governments rush to self identification without proper safeguarding measures".
Alba has proposed that a Citizens' Assembly be established to allow the issue to be "discussed reasonably and positively" and with the Gender Recognition Act legislation placed on pause.