SNP starts war of words with Labour after leader ignores Brown's pleas and steps down

The Scottish National Party wasted no time today in sticking the knife into Labour following the resignation of its leader in Scotland after a donations row.

A senior party figure declared the SNP was 'not worried' about who succeeds Wendy Alexander because Labour's Scottish arm was in complete turmoil and 'fighting like ferrets in a sack'.

Finance Secretary John Swinney fired the opening salvo in what is set to be a bitter war of words between the two parties as Labour faces a leadership election to replace Miss Alexander, who stepped down on Saturday.

Miss Alexander is part of the 'McMafia' clique of Scots politicians who helped bring Mr Brown to Number 10 and her downfall is a huge personal blow to Gordon Brown.

Her resignation after being found guilty of failing to declare £8,000 in donations made to her leadership campaign could also be the catalyst for another setback for Labour in the polls.

The SNP set out their stall today with a vicious attack, indicating Miss Alexander's fears that Labour's rivals will exploit the affair ahead of a crucial by-election in Glasgow next month were well founded.

Glasgow East MP David Marshall is quitting the Commons on health grounds, triggering yet another battle with the Nationalists on Mr Brown's home turf.

Mr Swinney told the BBC today: 'We're not really too worried about who the Labour leader is in Scotland. Labour have no idea where they are going.

'They're already fighting like ferrets in a sack, as they always do - which is at the root of the Wendy Alexander problem by the way - about the issue of the independence referendum, it's all over the newspapers, they're taking different views, they're all bad-mouthing each other in the process.

'That's all part of the furniture of the Labour Party's contribution to Scottish politics.'

Miss Alexander's brother, Douglas, the International Development Secretary, claimed the SNP had only scored a 'tactical victory' with his sister's departure and that it was guilty of following the 'politics of personal destruction'.

He praised his sister, saying: 'It was a very tough decision, taken in very difficult circumstances. I have the highest admiration and respect for my sister.

'I have to tell you those feelings do not extend to those Nationalist MPs who have engaged in such partisan conduct through the Parliament's standards procedure in recent months.'

Sticking together: International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander with his sister, Wendy. He attacked the SNP for their 'partisan conduct'

Miss Alexander has also claimed the SNP-dominated committee which punished her had issued a 'partisan' verdict - a charge denied by the party's leader Alex Salmond.

She eventually decided to quit over the funding scandal despite pleas from Mr Brown to stay and fight for her job and stepped down on Saturday.

The decision came after sleaze watchdogs ordered her to be suspended from the Scottish Parliament because she failed to declare £8,000 in donations.

Attack dog: John Swinney

A source close to the Prime Minister said: 'Gordon's inclination was to face it down. His belief is that it is a long game and we should fight them.'

The independent Commissioner for Standards ruled that Miss Alexander broke the law by not registering in time £8,000 donated to her campaign to become Scottish leader last summer. Gifts of more than £520 must be declared within 30 days.

She had been told by Parliamentary clerks that no declaration was necessary, but the advice was flawed.

Following the commissioner's ruling, the Scottish Parliament's standards committee recommended she be suspended for one day.

But with Parliament in recess she would have to wait until September for MSPs to vote on the decision.

Rather than having the issue hanging over her, Miss Alexander quit.

Her resignation is likely to spark a bitter civil war within Labour. A split between England and Scotland already appears to be developing.

The majority of Labour MPs are believed to favour finance spokesman Iain Gray, who they see as a strong Unionist candidate.

But many MSPs are said to support health minister Andy Kerr  -  who backed Miss Alexander's calls for an early independence referendum.

Former first minister Jack McConnell issued a thinly veiled warning to Gordon Brown not to interfere with the election, while a Labour source said the backing of the Prime Minister would be the 'kiss of death' for any candidate.