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.

The National:

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.