Millionaire plans political party

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A Scots millionaire has begun setting up a new political party aiming to improve standards at Holyrood.

The party, provisionally called Scottish Voice, has been founded by businessman Archie Stirling, who is laird of the Keir estate in Perthshire.

The 63-year-old said he wanted to make Scottish politics work for the "disillusioned majority".

The party, which is set to launch next month, has also put defending the Union at the heart of its policy.

Fielding candidates

Mr Stirling, who was married for eight years to the actress Dame Diana Rigg, said the party planned to track the speeches and voting records of MSPs.

The party would also consider fielding its own candidates if it was unable to endorse others ahead of the election, in May.

Mr Stirling, a nephew of SAS founder Sir David Stirling, is a member of a historic Scots family.

Other smaller parties to have fought Scottish Parliament elections include the Fishing Party and the People's Alliance.