FORMER SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars has called for the party to go further in building alliances to fight May's General Election.
The SNP is set to allow non-members to stand as candidates under an "SNP - Yes for Scotland" banner to recognise the broader pro-independence movement.
The move follows calls for the pro-independence parties - the SNP, Greens and Scottish Socialist Party - to put aside their political differences and agree to field a single Yes candidate in constituencies.
Speaking at an SNP conference fringe meeting yesterday, Mr Sillars backed joint tickets.
He said: "There is no question in my mind the SNP should be big enough to reach out to other significant people in the movement and field a single candidate in each constituency to maximise the vote we take to Westminster on behalf of Scotland."
Mr Sillars insisted the emergence of a broader pro- independence movement during the referendum campaign would lead to Scotland leaving the UK in future.
"We lost arithmetically on September 18 but we won politically," he said.
The SSP support joint Yes candidates. The Scottish Greens were said to be open to the proposal but have yet to finalise their election strategy, though a source said: "It looks the proposal is now off the table. It's obviously not a goer."
Delegates attending the SNP conference in Perth yesterday approved a motion paving the way for non-members to stand as candidates.
Hopefuls would have to be approved by the party before being selected to stand by a local branch.
Westminster leader Angus Robertson told conference: "The SNP will continue to be the voice of positive change in Scotland, and by being open to new people and new talent among our candidates, we can ensure that Scotland has the strongest possible voice at Westminster."
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