Independence Alba's top priority, says Alex Salmond

Alba leader Alex Salmond says Scotland "stands at a pivotal moment"

Taking "real action on independence" is Alba's top priority at the upcoming election, leader Alex Salmond has announced as he launched the party's manifesto.

The former first minister also unveiled plans relating to energy, women's rights and nuclear weapons.

Alba is standing candidates in 19 of Scotland's 57 seats at this election, and has backed Angus MacNeil, formerly of the SNP, in the Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

Set up by Mr Salmond ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections, the party has failed to win any seats at the polls but has been represented by two MPs at Westminster and one MSP at Holyrood following defections from the SNP.

Mr Salmond, who is not standing for election, said Scotland "stands at a pivotal moment".

He told BBC Scotland News: “We’ve got a strategy to take Scotland to independence, not asking, beseeching Westminster to grant us a referendum.”

Mr Salmond said his party would aim to use the election to secure a “popular mandate”, based on a majority of votes.

The Alba manifesto says that while this election could provide "impetus" to the independence movement, the Scottish Parliament election in 2026 remains Alba's "strategic priority".

It adds that if the UK government refuses to consent to independence negotiations, the Scottish Parliament should "mobilise domestic and international pressure to bend Westminster to the will of the Scottish people".

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As well as plans on reserved matters that are the responsibility of the UK government, the Alba manifesto includes proposals the Scottish government could take action on, such as the NHS and transport.

As well as independence, the party's key proposals are:

• Fight to save the Grangemouth Oil Refinery is saved from closure

• Support new North Sea oil and gas licences with carbon-neutral requirements

• Back a new national energy company with a public stake in offshore wind projects

• Protect the sex-based rights of women and girls, opposing gender self-identification reforms

• Establish a £500 payment for low earnings households in Scotland

• A Scottish triple lock on pensions the party says will provide an extra £1000 a year to pensioners compared to the rest of the UK

• Scrap the renewal of Trident nuclear weapons systems, based in the Clyde

• A target to build 200,000 houses in the five-year term of parliament

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack placed bets on the date of the election

The manifesto launch came amid reports of those involved in politics placing bets on the election.

Five Conservatives, including three candidates, are being looked at by the Gambling Commission for betting on the date of the election.

BBC Newsnight has since reported that up to 15 Conservative Party candidates and officials are being looked at.

And Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has admitted he placed bets on the election date but insisted he did not break any rules.

The commission is also investigating Kevin Craig, who was a Labour candidate in Suffolk, for betting on himself to lose. Scottish Labour said Mr Craig's behaviour was "completely unacceptable".

Mr Salmond said it would be “reprehensible” for a Conservative to use insider information to place a bet.

During a campaign visit in Edinburgh, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton admitted he had placed "very small" bets on two general election contests to show "confidence in my friends, people who I know are working hard and deserve to win".

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, campaigning in Inverurie, said he was not aware of any party members being investigated by the Gambling Commission or the party.