Nicola Sturgeon has backed her former deputy’s leadership of the SNP, saying she believes he has a strategy to achieve independence.

John Swinney told members at his party conference in Aberdeen “nobody knows” the tactics he will deploy to win a majority of SNP MSPs at next year’s election.

Speaking as she appeared at the conference to sign copies of her memoir, Frankly, and appear at a fringe meeting, the former first minister said: “I’ve known John Swinney for a long, long time and if he says he has a secret plan, he has a secret plan.

“I’ve got confidence in him to deliver it.”

Ms Sturgeon added that she was confident Mr Swinney could deliver a majority next year, but asked if he should step down if he fails, an exasperated former first minister said: “For goodness sake… I’ve been i

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