Edinburgh - The race to succeed Mr Alex Salmond is set to dominate the Scottish National Party's annual conference which begins today in Inverness. Mr John Swinney is running against Mr Alex Neil for the leadership post in a contest which has exposed an old split in the party.
Mr Swinney, deputy leader and groomed as Mr Salmond's successor, believes Scotland can gain independence through an expansion of the powers of the devolved parliament, created last year. Mr Neil thinks devolution is a dead end and believes the SNP must campaign for outright independence immediately.
The result of the election to succeed Mr Salmond will be known on Saturday afternoon.