A SECOND SNP councillor in Glasgow has defected to Alex Salmond's Alba.

John Letford announced today he has quit the SNP to join the former first minister's new pro-independence party.

He joins former SNP councillor Michelle Ferns, who defected last month and is now the top-ranked Alba candidate on the regional list for Glasgow.

Letford, a councillor in the SNP-led local authority, said he had given his support to Alba as he considered voting for the SNP on the regional list a waste.

Salmond argues that by standing only on regional lists, Alba can pick up list votes that would otherwise be squandered on the SNP under Holyrood’s voting system.

He says that if people vote SNP in constituencies and Alba on the list it could create a “supermajority” for independence, a number he has yet to define, and put more pressure on the UK Government to begin independence negotiations or grant a new referendum.

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But the SNP is asking supporters to back it in both the constituency and list votes.

Nicola Sturgeon has insisted a simple majority is a clear and sufficient mandate for another independence referendum, and the supermajority concept is unhelpful.

Campaigning alongside Salmond in Glasgow this evening, Letford said: “I have left the SNP and joined the Alba Party because I want to work towards achieving Scottish independence.

“I have been a councillor in Glasgow for nine years, was the Council Group Business Manager for five years and City Convener for Democratic Renewal for three years.

“I can think of no greater democratic renewal for my country than achieving independence by campaigning with Alba for a supermajority in the Parliament.

"By voting for Alba on the list, pro-independence supporters can send a strong team to begin the process of negotiating our independence.

“I want to be a part of that and I am delighted to join the Alba family.

"Finally, I would encourage voters in Maryhill to vote for Bob Doris (SNP) in the constituency and our inspirational Alba candidates Michelle, Ailsa, Shahid and Lynn on the List.”

Welcoming Letford to the Alba fold, Ferns added: “John has has been a formidable and tireless representative for his ward of Maryhill since 2012.

“I have no doubt that he will bring that same enthusiasm and commitment to the Alba party.

"John is highly regarded in his ward and has played a pivotal part in managing the administration in Glasgow City Council.

“He is right to say that this election is an opportunity to to put country before party and to push independence to the top of the agenda at Holyrood.

“Voting SNP in the constituency and voting Alba on the list is the best way to make sure both of your votes for independence are counted.

“I look forward to working with him as part of the Alba family and pursuing a supermajority for independence in the Scottish Parliament.”

Meanwhile, Salmond has said a "puff of wind" could currently blow Prime Minister Boris Johnson over.

Johnson has been under fire in recent weeks over a number of issues, including the recent announcement by the Electoral Commission of an investigation into how the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat was funded.

The former First Minister questioned whether Johnson will still be in office in two weeks, adding that he does not believe the Prime Minister will be as steadfast against granting another independence referendum as he has made out.

Salmond told STV: "People keep telling me what an immovable object Boris Johnson will be, I think a puff of wind would blow him over at the present moment.

"I'm not even sure he'll be in Downing Street in two weeks' time.

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"I don't think moving Boris Johnson on the independence referendum is going to be as difficult as people feel it is, but if you don't start that process you're never going to finish it."

Salmond, who said his party was launched to inject "urgency" into the independence debate, refused to say what other measures he would advocate if a referendum is not granted.

The Alba Party and Salmond have said the Scottish Government should negotiate with Westminster on how best for Scotland to become independent, and say it should not limit its ambition to holding a referendum.

Salmond said: "You should keep your options open - you don't set your ambition for a Section 30 referendum, that's just an invitation for Whitehall to turn it down.

"In a negotiation, you don't always tell the other side what your ambitions are, that's an invitation for them to say no to you, you need to have other things up your sleeve - plan B as it's sometimes called, I think you need plans C, D and E as well when you're facing down Westminster."