John Swinney is the new leader of the Scottish National Party, he was elected by a 2-1 majority over his rival, Alex Neil.

Swinney said he wanted two things, a party that would follow its executives decisions and a party that would take control over Scotlands parliament and then move Scotland to an independent nation once more.

John Reid, the Scottish secretary, said: "Now that Alex Salmond has fled the field the Nationalists are left with a second-choice leader presiding over a deeply divided party marked by factional infighting. One third of the delegates voted for Alex Neil, a clear indication of the depth of the fault line running through the SNP."

THIS IS THE REAL JOHN REID - MR BLAIR (and Westminsters poodle)