The contenders together on Friday

He told delegates at the Eden Court Theatre conference venue in Inverness: "Many tough things have been said in the duration of this leadership campaign and I've disagreed with Alex.

"But there's one thing of which I'm absolutely certain, I will always agree with more things with Alex than I will every agree with anyone in any other political party in Scotland."

Mr Swinney said his aim was to make the SNP "the finest political party in Scotland with the electoral strength to oust Labour from leadership".

'Bold, radical and audacious'

"Only by winning first past the post constituencies from Labour will we open the door to independence," he added.

Mr Neil was emphatic that independence should be achieved sooner rather than later.

He said the leadership debate had been conducted in a way to make the delegates proud but highlighted the key difference in his campaign, advocating a "bold, radical and audacious" party.

This is the man whose shoes the contenders want to fill

Referring to a poll that suggested support for independence had dipped to 24%, he told delegates: "The challenge of this party, the challenge of the national movement is to more than double that figure so that we mobilise the Scottish people and end up with a majority of people for independence in Scotland.

"The key difference is how we do that and what we have got to do is expose the difference between devolution and independence.

"I do not believe that devolution is the settled will of the Scottish people and I will not rest until independence is the settled will of the Scottish people.

Deputy leader

"We have to make the Scottish people realise the need to make independence their number one priority."

The decision on the new leader - taken by about 800 people - was supposed to have been known by midday on Saturday.

The election does not work on the basis of one member, one vote - instead, the bigger the constituency party, the more delegates it is allowed to send to vote in the secret ballot.

Votes will also be cast to choose the next deputy leader, treasurer and policy vice-convenor as well as a host of other posts.

Justice spokeswoman Roseanna Cunningham is competing with Transport Spokesman Kenny MacAskill and activist Peter Kearney to be the deputy leader.