Solidarity could win up to six seats at the Holyrood elections in May according to a poll commissioned by the party, provided the link to Tommy Sheridan is explicit.

The party had decided that Tommy the brand was key to success in May. Its best known figure will feature on every ballot paper for the regional vote across the country.

Now the poll by TNS System Three, which asked around 1000 people how likely they were to vote for a party founded by Mr Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne, suggests the party has the potential for success.

The response showed 6% saying it was quite likely and 1% saying it was very likely that they would vote for Solidarity, putting the new party close to the performance four years ago of the Scottish Socialist Party, from which it recently broke away.

The 7% overall figures broke down to 14% in West of Scotland, 10% in Glasgow and 8% in the Lothians.

"We had been hoping that an opinion poll might say that if correctly identified we might have a chance of 4-5% of the vote, but this showing of 7% gives us a fighting chance of up to six seats, based on independent, credible polling evidence," said Mr Sheridan.

The likelihood must remain that Solidarity and the Scottish Socialist Party will split their potential vote.

Solidarity believes it is crucial to use Mr Sheridan's name on the ballot papers. The SSP used its six-word allowance on ballot forms to add: "Convener Tommy Sheridan". Now Solidarity will use the same tactic in seven regions while in the south they will also seek to add the name of Rosemary Byrne MSP.

Mr Sheridan said: "The SSP have the inherited advantage of eight years' existence. We have only been in existence for four months, so it's hard for us.

"But some pollsters have said there is a degree of confusion out there because some people think I am still in the SSP. Putting my name beside Solidarity on the ballot paper will clear that up."

Brushing off claims of an ego-trip, he said: "There may be a downside in terms of people saying Solidarity is a one-man-band but the same people said that in 2003 and it didn't do us any harm - it is also coming now from the same people who were prepared to stand under that same banner then.

"It's exactly the criticism that was levelled at the tactic in 2003, but it was highly successful as we went from a 3% share of the vote to 7% and from one seat to six.

"Solidarity is bigger than Tommy Sheridan, Tommy Sheridan is the best-known figure in Solidarity. We are confident this factor will give us an edge that is not being picked up in the current polls."

He said 300,000 copies of a four-page newspaper going out door-to-door in the coming weeks will employ the strategy, which will then be used in Solidarity's formal election communication leaflet and then on ballot papers.

Colin Fox, the SSP leader, said: "The tactic smacks of desperation but I can see the logic of it, otherwise they are completely anonymous as a party. I would also question the value of Tommy's name appearing on ballot papers outside Glasgow."