Stephen Flynn reckons John Swinney has rivals ‘quaking in their boots’ as he jokes about SNP campervan for Tartan Army

JOHN Swinney will leave Holyrood rivals “quaking in their boots” if he becomes First Minister, Stephen Flynn said today.

The Nats Commons leader again backed the veteran SNP MSP to replace Humza Yousaf.

He said: “He is a formidable orator as well and I think for Anas Sarwar and Douglas Ross, they'll be quaking in their boots at the thought of John Swinney being back. He knows what he is doing.”

And Mr Flynn added: “I hope that John takes on. Because these are serious times, these are difficult times for the public, and they demand serious politics from serious politicians. You don't get much more serious, much better much more experienced than John Swinney. He is a formidable operator.”

But the SNP MP refused to say whether he’d be happy to serve in a government under Kate Forbes who has been attacked for her views on gay marriage.

The defeated leadership candidate nearly saw her campaign collapse before it barely started last year when she said she would have voted against gay marriage.

Mr Flynn said attacks on Ms Forbes’ personal beliefs were “really unfair”.

He said: “Kate has very, very strong views, personal views, conscience views. I don't agree with them. I am a very liberal guy who is not religious in any way, shape or form. 

"John is obviously a deeply devout Christian himself. But you're allowed to disagree. It’s how you disagree that matters.”

The Nats’ Commons leader also joked he was still happy for the SNP’s campervan at the centre of the police probe into the party’s finances to be used by Scotland fans at the Euros.

Mr Flynn joked: “I have got my ticket sorted for all the games in the Euros, the ones that we’re in so far but when we qualify I’ll get those tickets for quarters, semis and finals as well.

“Hotel prices are through the roof, the Tartan Army knows this and if we can help out with a campervan then why not?”