ALBA has released its full list of 32 candidates for the Holyrood elections on May 6 with former SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh among the final names published.
Party leader and former first minister Alex Salmond said that "people of talent, diversity and experience have rallied to the Alba standard".
There are 18 women and 14 men on the list with most defecting from the SNP.
In a statement released today it said that the party's list has six current or former MPs and MSPs, seven serving councillors and three BAME candidates.
Former SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh is an Alba candidate for the Holyrood election in May.
"This is a thrilling list with a depth of talent, diversity and experience which I am proud to lead into the election," said Salmond.
"Five days ago I asked how many would rally to the ALBA standard. The answer comes in this hugely impressive list today.
"Alba is set to make a big impact as we seek to build the #Supermajority for independence in the next Scottish Parliament.”
Here is the list of candidates:
South Scotland
Cynthia Guthrie
Corri Wilson
Suzanne Blackley
Laurie Flynn
Lothian
Kenny MacAskill MP
Alex Arthur
Christina Hendry
Irshad Ahmed
Glasgow
Cllr Michelle Fearns
Ailsa Gray
Cllr Shahid Farooq
Lynn McMahon
North East Scotland
Alex Salmond
Heather McLean
Cllr Brian Topping
Dot Jessiman
West Scotland
Cllr Chris McEleny
Cllr Caroline McAllister
Cllr Ellen McMaster
Delia Henry
Central Scotland
Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh
Cllr Lynne Anderson
Dr Jim Walker
Margaret Lynch
Mid Scotland and Fife
Eva Comrie
Neale Hanvey MP
Jim Eadie
Stephanie Reilly
Highlands and Islands
Kirk Torrance
Craig Berry
Josh Robertson
Judith Reid
The party pointed to a diverse range of candidates:
• 18 women
• 7 serving councillors
• 6 current or former parliamentarians
• 3 BAME candidates
• 3 candidates with disabilities
• 2 serving MPs
• 2 economists
• 1 Gaelic speaker
• 1 former champion boxer
• 1 Former First Minister
KEY STATS
WOMEN 18 = 56%
MEN 14 = 44%
Absent from the list was Angus MacNeil, the SNP MP for the Western Isles, who has been critical of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's independence strategy. Along with McEleny he has been a prominent advocate for a Plan B approach to achieving independence if Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues to refuse a new vote.
Earlier this week there was intense speculation that he and fellow SNP treasurer Douglas Chapman would defect to Alba, but neither have done so with the latter announcing on social media on Tuesday that he would remain an SNP MP.
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