SNP infighting rages as Kate Forbes allies warn 'Sturgeon apologist' John Swinney would be a disaster as leader - while poll finds Labour is already benefiting from chaos

SNP infighting is raging today as the struggle to take over from Humza Yousaf gathers pace.

Senior figures have been lining up behind veteran John Swinney after the dramatic implosion of the outgoing First Minister.

However, Mr Swinney could yet face a challenge from former finance secretary Kate Forbes, who came a close second to Mr Yousaf a year ago.

Allies of Ms Forbes have branded Mr Swinney a 'Sturgeon apologist' and 'continuity' option. The two politicians clashed bitterly during the last campaign, when Mr Swinney said the devout Christian was not an 'appropriate' person to be leader due to her opposition to gay marriage.

A tearful Mr Yousaf announced his departure yesterday after an extraordinary meltdown triggered by his decision to ditch the coalition with the Greens.

The power play backfired disastrously as the junior party vowed to support a no-confidence motion - leaving the SNP chief facing defeat that might have triggered a snap election. 

A poll has suggested Keir Starmer has been the big winner from the chaos engulfing the SNP, with Labour leapfrogging the separatists on Westminster voting intention.

The YouGov research indicated that even before the latest events, Sir Keir was on course to reap 28 MPs in Scotland - boosting his hopes of an overall majority. 

Nominations are now open for the leadership, and will close next Monday.

Prospective candidates will have to gain the support of 100 members from 20 different SNP branches to qualify for the contest. 

Neither Mr Swinney - who served as deputy to Nicola Sturgeon - nor Ms Forbes have confirmed they are standing, but they look to be the only contenders in the frame.

Pete Wishart, the long-serving SNP MP, has already described Mr Swinney as being the 'runaway favourite to take over the leadership of the party'.

Posting on X Mr Wishart said: 'John Swinney would be an excellent unifier for our country and our party. We should all get behind him if he chooses to run.'

Scottish Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, who had been suggested as a possible successor to Mr Yousaf, said: 'John Swinney is the best choice to be Scotland's First Minister & @theSNP leader.

'I will be strongly supporting him if, as I hope, he chooses to run.'

Reports also suggest Health Secretary Neil Gray – a key ally of Mr Yousaf and someone considered a potential leader – was backing Mr Swinney.

However, SNP MP Carol Monaghan warned that the party should be looking at 'someone who has wider appeal'.

'Many of those who are rushing to endorse John Swinney (an incredibly popular person within the SNP) for SNP leadership are the same folks that rushed to endorse Humza,' she posted on social media.

'How about endorsing someone who has wider appeal and who worries our opponents?'

One SNP source told the Telegraph: "John is of the past. He's yesterday's man. He was the architect of the Bute House Agreement with the Greens and is an apologist for Nicola Sturgeon. 

'He also accused Kate Forbes of not being a proper Christian, which was absurd and really quite unpleasant.'

Whoever wins the contest will need to be able to win enough votes in Holyrood to be elected First Minister, with the SNP needing just two votes for an overall majority.

The most likely suitors for the SNP would be the Greens – given the pro-independence bent of both parties and the reticence of other parties with the required number of MSPs to work with the party.

The Greens announced last week they would not support the First Minister in a confidence vote in his leadership this week after he scrapped the Bute House Agreement, eventually leading to his decision to step down.

So far, MSPs Annabelle and Fergus Ewing have said they would like to see Ms Forbes have another tilt at the leadership, which MP Joanna Cherry has also said she supports her.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said his party would press ahead with a motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government, saying he did not think the SNP is capable of 'stable, competent government'.

On the BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio programme, it was put to him that his motion would fall given the Scottish Greens will not back it.

He said: 'It's of course for other political parties to decide how they vote in that motion, but I think the principle still applies in our motion and that's why we're pushing ahead.'

Asked who he feared more between Ms Forbes and Mr Swinney, he continued: 'To be honest I'll take either of them. Because I think both of them are leading a broken, dysfunctional party.

'I think John in particular can't pretend to be some kind of change candidate.

'He has been at the heart, in his own words, not just of this SNP government for the last 17 years but the heart of the SNP machine for the last 40 years.'

The SNP's former Westminster leader Ian Blackford also spoke to Good Morning Scotland, saying it was 'obvious' that the SNP could not have done a deal with Alex Salmond.

He continued: 'He will not be in the room with us, of course he's not an MSP.'

He said Mr Yousaf is a man of 'great dignity, great leadership', adding: 'John has got the political experience, I think – someone that can work across parliament.

'He was heavily involved in the Bute House Agreement, and I think someone that can build consensus.'