Alex Salmond has insisted Alba is on the verge of a "political breakthrough" at next month's council elections despite being trounced last time voters went to the polls.
The former First Minister unveiled his party's local manifesto in Dundee today with pledges to double the winter fuel payment for pensioners and other proposals to help Scots with fuel bills.
Alba was launched in March last year with two SNP MPs quitting Nicola Sturgeon's party to join Salmond's breakaway movement.
More than a dozen SNP councillors also defected to Alba but the party failed to return a single MSP at the Holyrood election last May.
But Salmond believes Alba is now in a stronger position.
The former SNP leader said: "We are the party which gives priority and urgency to Scottish independence.
"There can be no better illustration of the urgency of independence than the fact that fully one third of the households of Scotland are now facing fuel poverty in our land of energy plenty.
"Access to our own natural resources to secure clean, green and affordable energy for our people requires independence. And what better place to make that point than here in the Yes City of Dundee, where Alba are standing in every ward."
He added: "Alba is the party with a comprehensive program at local council, Scottish and UK level to seriously tackle the cost of living crisis which is hammering family budgets.
"From doubling this year‘s winter fuel payment to pensioners to free access to sporting facilities for under-18s, to one third off household energy costs, it is Alba with the ambitious proposals to protect families from runaway inflation.
"Every Alba councillor elected will fight to have these proposals backed by both councils and government."
Salmond continued: "Alba is standing well over 100 candidates from all walks of life and in all parts of Scotland.
"The election of the first councillors under the Alba banner will make a difference to the future of Scotland. As we move towards election day I sense that political breakthrough."
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