John Swinney has said the SNP needed "fresh perspective" on how to build support for Scottish independence.
The Deputy First Minister - who ruled himself out as a replacement for Nicola Sturgeon last night - poured scorn on the suggestion that members who left over the last year should be readmitted.
He said it would be "preposterous" to let former SNP members back into the party to vote in the election to find a new party leader.
