An SNP MP has accused Kate Forbes of being a sex-obsessed religious fundamentalist.
Ochil and South Perthshire MP John Nicolson said he could not understand why "religious fundamentalists" like Forbes are "so obsessed with sex".
Nicolson also admitted the party is in a "complete mess" and said Nicola Sturgeon "concentrated power in a very small circle of people... I don't think that was always the healthiest way to run the party."
The former journalist is yet to publicly back any of the leadership candidates.
Forbes has said she would not have voted for gay marriage if she had been an MSP at the time.
Nicolson, who is gay, told BBC's Politics Live when asked if he could stay in the party if Forbes wins: “Yes, I think so. Because if she wins she'll be the First Minister. It's a democracy.”
He added: “The thing I don't get about these religious fundamentalists is why are they so obsessed with sex. The Bible tells us that we can't wear mixed fabrics or eat shellfish as well. They don't worry about that. It’s sex that seems to fixate them”
He also admitted that the SNP is in a "complete mess".
He said: “It's not good, is it? It is a complete mess. There's many things one can say about Nicola Sturgeon that are good. She's been a phenomenal First Minister, but succession planning, I don't think has been one of her great strengths.
“And we now find ourselves in a bit of a mess. We've had quite a torrid election campaign, it's been really quite unpleasant. I think the SNP isn't used to that. We haven't had one for 20 years.”
He added: “I think a fair criticism that could be made of Nicola Sturgeon was that she concentrated power in a very, very small circle of people.
“And I don't think that was always the healthiest way to run the party.
“It meant that she sometimes missed out on advice, I think, from people who could have probably helped her.
“And obviously, we're in a position which is far from ideal. "
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