SNP activist to run against John Swinney for party leadership

Graeme McCormick has described the SNP-run Scottish Government as ‘flatulence in a trance’ – Stuart Nicol

An SNP activist is planning to ruin John Swinney’s coronation as first minister by running against him to become party leader.

Graeme McCormick, a party member who has been actively critical of the Scottish Government, was seen at an independence march on Saturday attempting to secure enough support to make the ballot.

Senior SNP sources admitted it was feasible that Mr McCormick could be successful in forcing a contest given the low bar set by the party.

To stand for SNP leader, a party member needs just 100 signatures indicating support from fellow members, coming from a minimum of 20 separate branches.

Asked whether he would welcome another leadership contest given reports about Mr McCormick, Mr Swinney said: “I think it would be better if we just got on with things, that we started the rebuilding of the SNP and its political strength.”

Mr McCormick, a retired lawyer, has declined requests to speak to the media.

However, he has indicated to journalists that he is confident of winning the required support by the deadline of noon on Monday.

Should he succeed, Mr Swinney would be all but certain to still win the contest, but it would mean he would not become SNP leader until May 27.

Humza Yousaf would remain First Minister until the contest is finished, with an expected Government reshuffle which would be expected to see Kate Forbes handed a senior role also delayed.

Mr Swinney has pitched himself as a unity candidate – Jane Barlow/PA

Mr Swinney has pitched himself as a unity candidate, following Mr Yousaf’s disastrous tenure in charge of the SNP.

Last week he persuaded his only viable challenger, Ms Forbes, not to stand in exchange for a “significant” role in government.

“My bid to become SNP leader has received very, very comprehensive support within the SNP,” Mr Swinney said. “So I think the SNP has got a chance to start rebuilding from the difficult period that we have had.

“Every day that we spend in an internal contest, which I think we all probably know the outcome of, we delay the ability for the SNP to start its rebuilding. And I want to get on with that as quickly as I possibly can do.”

Should Mr McCormick win enough support to force a contest, a programme of hustings would take place.

While the former deputy first minister would not be obliged to attend, sources close to him said they expected that he would “respect the process” and debate Mr McCormick.

However, a leadership contest could be expensive for the cash-strapped party, with last year’s election to replace Nicola Sturgeon costing the party £160,000.

‘SNP must build more support for independence’

SNP headquarters will check signatures on physical forms on Monday. Anyone who has submitted nominations will be checked to ensure their membership is still in date, with the result expected in the afternoon.

If there is no contest, Mr Swinney would be elected as SNP leader unopposed and likely be voted in as first minister on Tuesday.

In a speech at the SNP party conference last year, Mr McCormick described the SNP-run Scottish Government as “flatulence in a trance”.

Mr Swinney said on Sunday that his party had to build more support for independence and admitted that it was not currently a “compelling proposition” for most Scots.

He said: “So what I think our priority has got to be is to spend less time discussing the mechanics and the thresholds of independence, but to start winning the arguments about why independence is an absolute necessity for people in Scotland.”

Craig Hoy, the Scottish Tory chairman, said Scots would be “dismayed but not surprised” to hear that “independence remains John Swinney’s overriding priority”.

He added: “Scotland needs a first minister focused on the public’s real priorities – fixing our ailing public services and growing the economy – not one fixated on dividing the nation just to pacify the warring SNP.

“It’s laughable of John Swinney to say he wants to take the ‘conflict’ out of the push for independence. The only way to do that is to drop it, and concentrate on the issues that matter to Scots.”

Play The Telegraph’s brilliant range of Puzzles – and feel brighter every day. Train your brain and boost your mood with PlusWord, the Mini Crossword, the fearsome Killer Sudoku and even the classic Cryptic Crossword.