SNP urged to ‘come together’ by its former Westminster leader

Ian Blackford said the party needs to make sure it is ready to face the general election next year now new leader Humza Yousaf is in place.

Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has urged the party to ‘come together’ now it has selected Humza Yousaf as First Minister (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

The SNP has been urged to “come together” by its former Westminster leader now the party has selected Humza Yousaf as First Minister.

Ian Blackford’s comments came just 24 hours after SNP president Mike Russell told The Herald newspaper that Scottish independence cannot be secured in the immediate future amid the ongoing police investigation into party finances.

Mr Blackford told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland on Monday that Mr Russell was signalling that the party is facing “a very challenging period”, and warned that “political parties that aren’t united tend to face electoral challenges”.