SNP activist ‘not leaned on’ to pull out of challenging Swinney for leadership | Scottish National party (SNP)

The Scottish National Party’s deputy leader has denied a party activist was “propped up” to withdraw from the leadership race against John Sweeney.

The party’s deputy leader, Keith Brown, said Graham McCormick’s last minute decision on Sunday night not to oppose Swinney was evidence that the party is united and focused on securing independence.

Speaking on BBC Radio ScotlandBrown said Mr Sweeney’s emergence last week as the person tipped to succeed Humza Yousaf as first minister after the collapse of the SNP’s coalition deal with the Greens had led to a bounce among voters.

Sweeney’s coronation as leader seemed certain after he convinced his most powerful rival, Kate Forbes, not to stand.

“We have people canvassing and they have already reported an increase in positive voter turnout after these canvassing sessions. So there was an immediate retreat from the discussions that John Sweeney had primarily with Kate Forbes and now it seems Graham McCormick,” Brown said.

McCormick, a serial rebel who told the party’s conference last year that the SNP’s independence strategy was “flatulence in a trance”, had initially told allies he wanted to prevent Mr Sweeney winning the leadership unopposed.

McCormick said over the weekend he would secure the 100 nominations needed to file before Monday’s noon deadline after addressing activists at the All Under One Banner independence rally on Saturday.

He announced late Sunday night that he had stepped down after a “long and fruitful conversation” with Sweeney.

“John and I agreed on the challenges facing the SNP, our government and our people and explored new thinking on a range of issues which I am confident, as they have progressed, will inspire campaigners both within the SNP and more the broad independence movement in the coming weeks and months,” McCormick said.

Brown said Sweeney’s persuasiveness is a testament to his ability to bring different parts of the party together. “I don’t think ‘lean into it’ is true,” Brown said.

“We’ve seen repeated mention of stitching, some backroom deals and coronations and so on, and the idea of ​​a contest, it can’t just be a contest of ideas. It should be separate. This is not so.

“What you’ve seen, as reported, are discussions being held by someone who wants to take a leadership position, John Sweeney, positive discussions with other people in the party, the party coming together in a way it hasn’t done for a few months and seems very positive and united.”