A 'council of war' will be led by Solidarity MSPs to oppose austerity in Scotland, Tommy Sheridan has said.

Speaking at the launch of his party's manifesto the former SSP leader outlined how Solidarity MSPs would defy spending cuts. The council of war would also be composed by charities, trade unions and third-sector groups.

Sheridan said: "We want to be elected to the Scottish Parliament to convene a council of war. A council of war that unites the 32 local authorities, that unites the local authority trade unions, community groups all across Scotland, the senior citizen groups, the disabled groups.

"Unite us in a war against Tory austerity. They have no mandate whatsoever to impose their austerity in Scotland: we say defiance not compliance with these austerity cuts.

The socialist politician also explained that Solidarity would launch eight private member's bills in Holyrood if elected. The first of which would be for a second referendum on independence.

He said: "The first bill which will be presented in the Holyrood Parliament by elected Solidarity MSPs will be the 'Indy Ref 2 Bill'. That's the first bill which will be presented.

"Within three months of being elected in 1999 to the first Holyrood Parliament I introduced a bill to abolish poindings and warrant sales and within a year I managed to persuade the Scottish Parliament to abolish the barbaric practice of poindings and warrant sales."

"Brothers and sisters, we know what we are doing. We are not new kids on the block. We have experience, got maturity and we have got policies to match. We are going to take 'Indy Ref 2' into the Parliament to facilitate a second referendum by 2018."

The Solidarity leader was confident of success in a future referendum saying that he expects a new Yes campaign to win "60 to 65%" of the vote. He believes that the 2015 Westminster result provides a legitimate mandate for a second referendum to held.

The party are planning to declare Scottish independence on April 6, 2020 so that it falls on the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath.

Sheridan also outlined his opposition to the European Union and backed a Leave vote in June's referendum. However, senior Scottish Vote Leave sources said that they would be resistant to any official involvement by Sheridan.