The Scotsman - Politics - Swinney defends MSPs over failure to pay levy JOHN Swinney, the SNP leader, spoke out to defend his MSPs last night after it emerged that most have failed to pay a £250-a-month levy imposed on them by the party...

Mr Swinney also faced a challenge on policy yesterday from Alex Neil, an MSP who challenged him for the leadership three years ago. Mr Neil warned that Mr Swinney risked wrecking the chances of an independent Scotland "for a lifetime" unless he joined rival parties in a new, pro-independence alliance.