THE Scottish Nationalists will back Jeremy Corbyn to become prime minister to prevent a no-deal Brexit, a television journalist has claimed.

ITV’s Robert Peston said that senior figures in the SNP are in favour of backing Mr Corbyn in order to stop Britain leaving the European Union without an agreement.

It is understood that party leaders Nicola Sturgeon and Ian Blackford are concerned that there is no time to find a compromise candidate before October 31, when Britain’s EU membership is due to expire.

They would hope for a general election to be called immediately afterwards.

According to Mr Peston, a source close the SNP leadership said: “It is increasingly clear that we will have to instal a new prime minister via a vote of no confidence, so that we can request a delay to Brexit and hold an election.

“The convention is absolutely clear that it is the leader of the opposition — in this case Jeremy Corbyn — who should become prime minister in those circumstances.”