Alex Salmond has endorsed Nicola Sturgeon to be Scotland’s First Minister in May’s elections.

In an interview with the Sunday Mail, Salmond stated his support for Sturgeon.

It comes as SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon questioned his fitness to return to politics as he kickstarts his new Alba party.

READ MORE: Alba Party: Alex Salmond sets up new party to stand in Holyrood election

He said: “I’m sure she will be First Minister after the election and I am advising people to vote SNP in the constituency ballot.

“They can fight their campaign and we will fight ours – and our campaign will be unremittingly positive.

“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.

“I am asking people to give their second list vote to Alba so that over one million independence votes are not wasted.”

A number of prominent SNP members have now jumped ship to Salmond’s new party.

It was revealed this morning that Neale Hanvey, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath had made the switch. 

He is now due to stand as candidate in the mid Scotland and Fife seat in the upcoming poll. 

Yesterday it was announced former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill defected to Alba.

READ MORE: SNP: Kenny MacAskill’s move to Alba Party is a relief