“POLICY, not personalities” – one of Scotland’s newest Yes parties has revealed plans for ferries to Norway, drop-in centres for people with alcoholism and Highlands and Islands repopulation in its first manifesto.

Scotia Future, formed last year and now contesting its first election, has unveiled 12 pages of pledges ahead of voting on May 6.

It is amongst just two of the newer pro-independence parties remaining since the launch of the Alba Party just over a week ago.

Action for Independence pulled all of its hopefuls hours after that launch, with the Independence for Scotland party doing so within days.

Restore Scotland will also seek to secure its first MSPs.

The Scotia Future blueprint repeats the party’s commitment to another independence referendum and opposition to rejoining the European Union.

It also reveals a raft of justice, land and economic policies as the organisation brands itself “the party of workplace democracy”.

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Leader Chic Brodie, an ex-SNP MSP who is standing for the Ayr constituency, commented: “The forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections will be a turning point in the history of the country.

“If the Covid crisis has proved anything it is that we need a Scottish Government with full sovereign powers and full power over the economy to come out of the Covid crisis stronger than we entered it, and it has also proved the value of co-operative economic policies.

“Scotia Future is the only party fighting these elections to stand for real independence for Scotland, economic justice, and putting powers back to communities.

“Scotia Future offers the Scottish people distinctive and positive policies.

“It is only on the basis of policy, not personalities, that we can take the country forward.”

The party is standing in two constituencies – Ayr and Renfrewshire South.

Its plan includes an outline for a federal system of government in an independent Scotland and the establishment of a central bank and Scots pound.

On regaining sovereignty from Westminster, it says a majority-Yes Holyrood should either hold a referendum on independence or negotiate an exit deal with Number 10 that can then be put to a country-wide ballot.

It advocates for a new Celtic Council on the Nordic Council model for “new and closer economic relationships” with nearby countries and a separate referendum on whether or not to keep the queen.

The manifesto seeks a review of arm’s-length external organisations (Aleos) on transparency and accountability and new right-to-appeal powers for community councils over planning decisions.

It also advocates for the overhaul of the Holyrood electoral system, with the multi-member single transferable vote method introduced and the establishment of a second chamber.

Under the plan, Edinburgh would be home to a Scottish Senate, with a Scottish House of Representatives placed in Glasgow.

A wellhead tax would be introduced to create a national oil fund, with the promotion of employee participation and share ownership in all companies “over a certain size”.

The party seeks to give anonymity to both accusers and accused in sexual assault cases prior to the verdict and break Police Scotland back up into separate forces.

It also plans moves to boost the population of the Highlands and Islands and establish a direct Fife-Norway ferry service, as well as an increase in male primary teachers to provide “positive male role models”.

The manifesto also outlines plans for “street sanctuary” drop-ins for people with alcohol problems to access support, with input from the third sector.