Once noted for its discipline, over the last year the SNP has become a party riven with internal disputes - albeit united around the central objective of Scottish independence.

These arguments took hold during the bitter 2023 leadership contest following Nicola Sturgeon's resignation in February last year and haven't gone away in the past 14 months.

They are also highly likely to surface again in the new race set to be called after Humza Yousaf announced his resignation today as First Minister and SNP leader.

There are several groups now involved in a battle to take control of the SNP.

The old guard

On BBC Radio Four this morning former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond - who now leads the Alba party - said that Mr Yousaf phoned Alba at 7.30am today about a deal but the SNP 'old guard' blocked it. So who are the old guard?

They would be seen as the establishment around Nicola Sturgeon.

READ MORE: Tearful Yousaf announces his resignation as First Minister

READ MORE: Kate Forbes: How is she perceived in Highland consituency

Ms Sturgeon's deputy John Swinney, who was himself the party leader from 2000 to 2004 until he was forced to step down because of poor election results, is a central figure in the SNP's old guard. The European election result in 2004, which saw the party dropping to less than 20% of the vote, led to Mr Swinney's downfall after senior figures within the SNP began privately briefing against him.

Ian Blackford, the former Westminster leader, who remains close to Ms Sturgeon and is frequently in the media defended her legacy in government, is another undisputed member of this group.

He has already backed Mr Swinney should he decide to throw his hat into the ring for the top job.

The Herald: Former deputy first minister John Swinney.   Photo PA.

Mr Swinney is still regarded as Ms Sturgeon’s loyal lieutenant, standing beside her when she addressed the media in Holyrood in June last year following her arrest as part of the ongoing police investigation into SNP finances.

She was released without charge pending further inquiries while her husband Peter Murrell was been charged in connection with embezzlement earlier this month.

The influence of Ms Sturgeon's supporters has been waning since she stood down and amid the stepping up of the police investigation. A new leadership election would give them the opportunity to regain control of the party.

READ MORE: Humza Yousaf throws the baton down and runs for the hills

Already, one of Mr Yousaf's allies - health secretary Neil Gray who it was thought might stand for the leadership - is reported to be supporting Mr Swinney to become the new party leader.

Whether the party backs this plan remains to be seen over the coming weeks. SNP members will have to weigh up it is better to it better to choose someone who wants changes in the party, or support someone from the old guard.

The Herald: SNP MP Joanna Cherry has cautioned her party about going backwards to support John Swinney and said a "complete reset" is needed.   Photo PA.

Prominent MP Joanna Cherry earlier today made her views clear, warning the party about going "backwards" and suggesting change was needed - a message underlined by Kate Forbes in the last leadership election.

"John Swinney is hugely respected across our party but the lesson of the last year is that the SNP needs a complete reset. We must go forward not backwards. Kate was right when she said that continuity would not cut it. The next leader must deliver change," Ms Cherry wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter earlier today.

She later added: "As Humza, who should be thanked for his service, will remain FM until we have a new leader there is no need for an unseemly rush by the (old) boys club to stitch up the succession. The leader of the SNP should be chosen by our members not by men in grey suits."

 

Forbes followers

Publicly, this cadre has a clear leadership group of Michelle Thomson, who ran Kate Forbes’s last leadership campaign, and former business minister Ivan McKee, who encouraged his old boss to stand in the first place.  Their number would also include the long serving MSP Fergus Ewing. 

Ms Forbes publicly backed Mr Ewing when he was suspended from the SNP's Holyrood group for a week last autumn after voting against the Scottish Greens minister Lorna Slater in a no confidence motion back in June.

The Herald: Former finance secretary Kate Forbes.   Photo PA.

Mr Ewing was also supported at the time by his sister, fellow SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing, and his other long serving colleague Christine Grahame.

All of these MSPs have expressed concerns - in various degrees of outspokeness - about the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens. Ms Grahame was one of the last to call for the BHA to end - saying it had run its course last Wednesday - a day before it was indeed terminated.

Rural affairs minister Jim Fairlie and community safety minister Siobhain Brown supported Ms Forbes leadership bid last year. Mr Yousaf appointed no Forbes supporters to his Cabinet, offering Ms Forbes the role of rural affairs secretary. She declined to take up the position having been finance secretary in Ms Sturgeon's government.

Stephen Flynn's Westminster wing

Since ousting Mr Blackford as SNP Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn - who has ruled himself out of a leadership bid this time round - wasted no time in building his own power base in London. 

Mr Flynn’s closest allies are Mhairi Black, his deputy, Stewart Hosie, his economy spokesman, Brendan O’Hara, his chief whip, and Drew Hendry, his foreign affairs spokesman.

The Herald: Stephen Flynn, the SNP's leader at Westminster. Photo PA.

There is more of a geographical spread to this group based on their constituencies, but is is said they are united by a feeling of isolation in London.

Who Mr Flynn will support in the new leadership contest will be absolutely key. Some in the party believe his support could have a very significant influence on the outcome of who wins.

Earlier today he said he would encourage Mr Swinney to stand. 

"I think there's only one person who can unite the party," he told the News Agents podcast. "I think there's only one person who can unite the country."



Yousaf loyalists
A tight circle formed around the First Minister, led primarily by Shona Robison, the deputy first minister, who is one of Ms Sturgeon’s closest friends.

There is probably some overlap now between this group and the old guard with Neil Gray, who ran Yousaf’s leadership campaign, now reportedly indicating he would support Mr Swinney for the top role.

Michael Matheson, the former health secretary, described as having been Mr Yousaf’s “best pal in cabinet” under the previous regime, was also in the circle until he was resigned in February amid an Holyrood inquiry over a £11,000 iPad bill. Holyrood authorities found Mr Matheson breached two parts of its code of conduct by failing to abide by parliamentary policies and by making “improper use” of its expenses.

The allies’ spiritual home is said to be Dundee, where Mr Yousaf, Mr Robison and Joe Fitzpatrick, who was promoted back into government after a significant role in the first minister’s campaign, all live, and where Mr Yousaf opted to try and save his leadership with a housing announcement on Friday.

Màiri McAllan, the net zero secretary, and education secretary Jenny Gilruth, would also be considered loyalists of the First Minister. All the current members of the Cabinet supported Mr Yousaf's bid for the leadership and would be seen as 'continuity' candidates should any of them run.