Dornan first to enter SNP deputy leader race

● Glasgow MSP confirms he hopes to replace Angus Robertson in role

The race to become the new deputy leader of the SNP has begun, with a Glasgow MSP becoming the first party member to publicly confirm his intention to stand.

James Dornan announced via social media yesterday that he was seeking nominations for the position vacated by Angus Robertson.

The MSP for Cathcart is expected to face competition from several colleagues when the process commences. The contest was triggered when Mr Robertson stood down on Saturday, eight months after losing his seat at the general election.

“I would like to announce that I will be seeking nominations for the position of Depute Leader for the Scottish National Party, when the process commences,” Mr Dornan tweeted.

A former Glasgow city councillor, he was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2011 and is the convener of Holyrood’s

0 James Dornan, right, was a Glasgow councillor, and was elected to Holyrood in 2011 education and skills committee.

Mr Dornan’s candidacy follows warnings from some SNP members that the party requires a strong deputy leader capable of standing up to Nicola Sturgeon.

Ian Blackford, the Nationalist leader at Westminster, emerged over the weekend as the strong favourite to replace Mr Robertson.

But some in the party are against an effective “coronation” which could see no SNP heavyweights standing against the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber.

“The position of deputy has been a non-role since Nicola held it,” a senior SNP source told a newspaper.

“She needs a reshuffle badly, and to be surrounded by people with strong politics, not people who fear her. Our Holyrood intake is a group of lovely people, but frankly a group of political lightweights.”

Mr Blackford has yet to make a formal announcement on whether he will stand for the role, saying he needed time to “reflect with colleagues”.

SNP MSP Alex Neil, a former cabinet minister, has called for an open contest in which the future direction of the party could be debated.

“My view is the more the merrier,” he said. “It’s better to have a competition and a proper debate, and there is a debate to be had about where we go from here, and give us a choice.”

Mr Robertson announced he was stepping down from the role with immediate effect on Saturday, eight months after he lost his Moray seat at June’s general election.

He said he was “tremendously honoured” to have served as Ms Sturgeon’s number two in the party, telling the First Minister he valued her “friendship, professional and personal support”.

Mr Robertson lost the Moray constituency, which he had represented since 2001, to the Conservatives.

In a letter to Ms Sturgeon, he said: “I believe I am no longer able to fully discharge my mandate, which was to partner you as Westminster SNP leader and as a parliamentarian representing a rural constituency.

“While it would be my greatest privilege to continue as depute leader, I know you understand that I have to focus now on pursuing new career opportunities.”