NICOLA Sturgeon is the best person to lead Scotland, Alex Salmond has insisted.

The former first minister was speaking after two SNP MPs defected to his newly-formed Alba Party.

Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey announced they have switched to the new list-only party ahead of the Holyrood election.

Salmond told the Sunday Mail: "I believe that she should be the First Minister because the SNP should win a handsome majority.

"She is the only viable independence candidate and therefore she is the best one.

"I have no ambition to be in government. I am not standing to be First Minister, I am standing for the Alba Party on the list to build an independence super-majority."

 

The National: Alex Salmond

READ MORE: Another SNP MP defects to Alex Salmond's Alba Party for Holyrood election

Salmond said his party will be carrying out a "positive" campaign and urged voters to back the SNP or another pro-independence party in the constituency seats.

The Alba Party will only be fielding candidates in the regional lists in an attempt to boost Yes numbers in Holyrood.

Sturgeon has said there are "significant questions" about Salmond's return to politics She told the Scotland on Sunday: "The good thing about [Salmond] now having his own party is I don't have to spend much time talking about him or thinking about him any more."

She added that she would have stood down if the result of the Hamilton Inquiry had been different.

"I would have tendered my resignation because I have always believed that the office of First Minister is bigger than any individual, and I would not have dragged the office of First Minister through the mud."