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ALEX Salmond has announced he's launching a new political party to rival the SNP - after Nicola Sturgeon this week clung onto her career following a bungled Scottish Government probe.

He said the move will aim to create a 'super-majority' with the SNP - but it could split the pro-independence vote and lead to Ms Sturgeon relying on new party Alba for a majority.

Alex Salmond has announced he'll lead a new Scots political party ahead of the May elections in a broadcast riddled with tech errors
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Alex Salmond has announced he'll lead a new Scots political party ahead of the May elections in a broadcast riddled with tech errors
And he's been quizzed on whether he'll simply be 'Nicola Sturgeon's worst nightmare'
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And he's been quizzed on whether he'll simply be 'Nicola Sturgeon's worst nightmare'Credit: AP
But the SNP today has labelled the move 'predictable'
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But the SNP today has labelled the move 'predictable'Credit: Getty

His comeback press conference was riddled with tech errors that left him staring silently into a camera.

Viewers were unable to hear some of the questions put to Mr Salmond - and there were long periods of quiet while the politician, apparently unaware of the problems, listened without speaking.

Launching the broadcast, Mr Salmond said he wants a "super-majority" from voters for Scottish independence - but admitted it'll be a "Herculean task" to get ready in time.

The politician called his party "a new political force" in a broadcast on YouTube - and said he's "launching a flag in the wind".

"We will see how many will rally to our standard," he added.

"This party, under my leadership, is seeking to build a super-majority for independence."

However, he said his party will only battle in the lists, rather than seeking constituency leads.

It means Alba could become a powerful minority party which takes votes away from SNP and seeks to influence its push for independence.

The intervention risks causing problems for Ms Sturgeon, who is trying to use the vote as a platform for pushing to get another referendum as early as this year.

Mr Salmond is locked into a bitter political war with Nicola Sturgeon
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Mr Salmond is locked into a bitter political war with Nicola SturgeonCredit: AFP - Getty
But he denied his new party is simply a way to bring her down - and said independence is 'bigger than personalities'
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But he denied his new party is simply a way to bring her down - and said independence is 'bigger than personalities'Credit: PA

But the ex MSP, who says he hopes there could be 90 pro-independence politicians returned at the election, denied the party is simply a bid to take Ms Sturgeon down - as the issue is "bigger than personalities".

And he also faced down claims he's a "bully, a nightmare to work with and a nasty person" during a toe-curling Q&A session as he was asked by Channel 4's Liz Bates if he was "desperate" for political success at all costs - even if it means "trashing the party" he spent most of his life working for.

He was also asked if he's the "bully and a creep" 'described in court cases and inquiries' - or if he's "reformed".

And Mr Salmond replied that Alba is "positive" and "strong" - and said: "Either Alba will be successful, and many people will rally to our standard, or it won't."

The current First Minister comfortably survived a vote of no confidence by 65 to 31 to secure her political future earlier this week - and hours after a probe concluded she did mislead Scottish Parliament over the allegations against Mr Salmond.

Ms Sturgeon easily fended off the challenge after the Greens backed the SNP and Labour opted to abstain.

The vote came after the Holyrood inquiry published its findings - and a day after James Hamilton QC's report revealed Ms Sturgeon hadn't breached the ministerial code.

But despite that, investigators said they "find it hard to believe" that Ms Sturgeon had "no knowledge of any concerns about inappropriate behaviour on the part of Mr Salmond prior to November 2017".

Mr Salmond was found not guilty of all 13 charges against him following a trial, and is now launching a political comeback.

The news about a political rival is likely to come as a shock to Ms Sturgeon, who she insisted she will not be "bullied out of office" and said she "rejects entirely" the idea that she misled Parliament.

The First Minister was questioned for almost seven hours about her role in the botched investigation earlier this month.

Mr Salmond was also quizzed. He used his appearance to accuse St Sturgeon of multiple breaches of the ministerial code and argue there was a "malicious" plot to remove him from public life.

But Ms Sturgeon said she wasn't out to “get” Mr Salmond - and slammed “absurd” claims there was a plot against him.

What is the difference between list and constituency parties?

Alex Salmond's new party will not compete in constituencies. So what does that mean?

Scotland is divided into 73 constituencies and each constituency elects one MSP.

These are known as constituency MSPs and are elected by 'first past the post' in exactly the same way as MPs are elected to Westminster.

This is the elector's 'first vote'.

The 'second vote' is used to elect 56 additional members.

Scotland is divided into eight parliamentary regions and each region elects 7 regional MSPs.

In the second vote, the voter picks a party, rather than a candidate.

The parties are then allocated a number of additional members to make the overall result more proportional.

The regional MSPs are selected from lists compiled by the parties.

These MSPs are also sometimes referred to as List MSPs.

She rejected the "absurd suggestion that anyone acted with malice or as part of a plot against Alex Salmond", saying the "claim is not based in any fact".

She added: "There is nothing here that the Government has to hide."

Meanwhile, Mr Salmond also this week announced plans to take legal action over the "conduct" of the Scottish Government's top civil servant Leslie Evans.

He said the permanent secretary failed to take "real responsibility" for failings highlighted in the two reports released this week.

Mr Salmond said his announcement of the legal action on Wednesday would be his "final statement" on the reports.

Reacting to news of the Alba party this afternoon, an SNP spokesperson said: "This is perhaps the most predictable development in Scottish politics for quite some time.

"At this time of crisis, the interests of the country must come first and should not be obscured by the self interest of someone who shows no sign whatsoever of reflecting on serious concerns about his own conduct - concerns which, to put it mildly, raise real questions about the appropriateness of a return to public office.

"The SNP has led the country through the last 12 months of the Covid pandemic, and at this election we offer the experienced, responsible and forward-looking leadership that the country needs."

Read More on The Sun

They added: "Our plans to get Scotland through and out of the Covid crisis, and support a recovery with fairness and equality at its heart, with the opportunity to put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands, will be the focus of our election campaign.

"The only way to secure strong leadership, a referendum on independence, and a positive future for the country is to cast both votes for the SNP on May 6."

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