FOUR candidates have thrown their hats into the ring to become the next deputy leader of the SNP as the party gears up for a second Scottish independence drive in the wake of the Brexit vote.

The all-male line-up consists of MPs Angus Robertson and Tommy Sheppard, MEP Alyn Smith and senior Inverclyde councillor Chris McEleny.

Mr Robertson, the SNP leader at Westminster, is likely to be the favourite to replace Stewart Hosie, who resigned as deputy leader earlier this year following revelations of an affair with a journalist.