THE SNP should stick with leader John Swinney but “take on board the message” of last week’s general election, according to Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes.

In the seven days since the party’s tally of MPs fell from 47 to just nine, high-profile SNP figures such as defeated former Edinburgh Southwest MP Joanna Cherry and former deputy leader Jim Sillars have called for a “clear-out” at the top, going as far as suggesting that First Minister Mr Swinney be replaced by Ms Forbes herself.

Dismissing calls to topple the First Minister, Ms Forbes told BBC Radio Scotland today: “I think it’s allowing John  Swinney – who was only in post two weeks before the election was called, I think I was in post 10 days before it was called – allowing him to set out and deliver on his agenda of tackling poverty, of economic growth, of ensuring our public services are robust and resilient.

“I’m a democrat and the secret ballot never lies – and therefore we need to take on board the message that the public have sent us in preparation for 2026.”