Voters want to see SNP change and that's what we're going to do

Deputy FM urges party against navel gazing as Neil calls for new guard

- CHRIS McCALL

KATE Forbes has backed First Minister John Swinney to improve the SNP's "integrity" among voters following a disastrous General Election.

The Nationalists lost dozens of seats to Scottish Labour at the poll on July 4 to end up with just nine MPs.

Forbes, who was appointed Deputy First Minister by Swinney in May, said the party had to listen to the electorate and not enter a period of "navel gazing".

"They want to see change," she insisted on BBC Radio 4.

"This was a change election and that's what we're going to do."

It comes after one SNP veteran called for Swinney to quit as party leader to allow a new generation to take charge.

Alex Neil, who served as a Scottish Government minister under both Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond, said that Swinney should make way for Forbes or Westminster leader Stephen Flynn.