SNP will lose Scottish election without complete rethink, say senior party figures

Questions remain about John Swinney’s capacity to handle the pressures facing the SNP in the wake of July’s catastrophic general election defeat. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA

The Scottish National party will lose the next Holyrood election without a fundamental rethink of purpose and policy while carrying out long-delayed internal reforms, senior figures have warned.

However, some have expressed doubt that the party’s leader, John Swinney, is strong enough to direct the scale of change required.