SNP activist ‘not leaned on’ to pull out of challenging Swinney for leadership

Keith Brown, the SNP’s depute leader, says: ‘We’ve seen repeated references to stitch-up, some backroom deals and coronations and so on … that’s not the case.’ Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

The Scottish National party’s depute leader has denied that a party activist was “leaned on” to pull out of the leadership race against John Swinney.

The party’s depute leader, Keith Brown, said Graeme McCormick’s last-minute decision on Sunday night not to stand against Swinney was proof the party was united and focused on delivering independence.