JOHN SWINNEY has been elected unopposed as the new leader of the SNP - after a long-serving party activist from Helensburgh and Lomond withdrew his last-minute challenge.

Graeme McCormick, from Arden, informed journalists at the weekend of his intention to stand as a rival candidate to John Swinney.

But on Sunday evening Mr McCormick said he would “not proceed” with his nomination and would instead support Mr Swinney.

The SNP confirmed at lunchtime on Monday that Mr Swinney had been elected unopposed as the leader of the party following Humza Yousaf's resignation last month.

MSPs at Holyrood are now expected to hold a vote on who should be the next First Minister at the Scottish Parliament later this week.

While the SNP does not have a majority in the chamber, the Scottish Greens, who shared power with the SNP until Mr Yousaf terminated the Bute House Agreement between the two parties last month, have indicated they will not vote against Mr Swinney.

Mr McCormick told the PA news agency that he “met the thresholds for party rules”, but “after a lengthy and fruitful conversation” with Mr Swinney he decided to instead give his full support to him.

Mr McCormick said: “John and I agreed the challenges which the SNP, our Government and our people face, and explored new thinking on a range of issues which I am confident, as they are advanced, will inspire activists both within the SNP and wider independence movement in the following weeks and months.

“This is a fresh start for our members and our politicians, and I’m sure that John’s determination to deliver independence will be rewarded at the forthcoming general election.

“I have therefore concluded that I shall not proceed with my nomination for party leader but instead support John Swinney’s nomination for party leader and first minister of Scotland.”

Mr McCormick had told journalists at the weekend that he expected to secure the 100 nominations needed from 20 branches, but that this had yet to be officially confirmed.

Mr Swinney, who described himself as the candidate to unite the party after a “difficult” few years, said an election contest would delay the SNP’s essential rebuild.

But he signalled he would win any potential contest, telling Sky News that party members “probably know the outcome” between the two potential candidates.

It's Mr Swinney's second spell as SNP leader, having originally been elected after Alex Salmond stepped down in 2000.

But he resigned as both party leader and First Minister four years later, and Mr Salmond returned to the role.

Mr McCormick came within 1,600 votes of unseating Labour's Jackie Baillie as the MSP for the Dumbarton constituency in 2007.

He also contested the Westminster constituency of West Dunbartonshire in 2010, coming a distant second behind Labour's Gemma Doyle, who secured 61.3 per cent of the vote against Mr McCormick's 20.1 per cent.