Nominations are open in the SNP leadership contest as senior figures have backed former deputy first minister John Swinney for the top job.Meanwhile, a smaller number of the party's parliamentarians have given their backing to former finance secretary Kate Forbes, who has not yet indicated if she will run.First Minister Humza Yousaf announced on Monday he would stand down as he faced two confidence votes in Holyrood but said he would stay on to allow a successor to be chosen.

Nominations are open in the SNP leadership contest as senior figures have backed former deputy first minister John Swinney for the top job.Meanwhile, a smaller number of the party's parliamentarians have given their backing to former finance secretary Kate Forbes, who has not yet indicated if she will run.First Minister Humza Yousaf announced on Monday he would stand down as he faced two confidence votes in Holyrood but said he would stay on to allow a successor to be chosen.