Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has formally launched the SNP's campaign for May's Scottish Parliamentary election by delivering a pre-recorded message to party members and supporters.

Neale Hanvey has become the second SNP MP to defect to the newly-formed Alba party led by Scotland's former First Minister Alex Salmond.

Nicola Sturgeon has staked out a position against a new pro-independence party formed by her predecessor Alex Salmond but the jury is out on whether Salmond's initiative will help or hinder the quest for Scottish statehood.