Election 2016: '˜Prove you're credible' Marwick tells opposition

The former Mid-Fife and Scotland MSP, who enjoyed a 4000-strong majority in the 2011 election, looked quietly confident as she surveyed the counting floor in Glenrothes tonight.

She told the Press she had every confidence in the constituency’s new SNP candidate.

“It’s far too early to say what the result will be but I have no doubt Jenny Gilruth would be an absolutely fantastic MSP,” she commented.

“I’ve known her for over ten years and have no hesitation in endorsing her and hope she is going to win.

“The pressure is enormous and she’s handled it very well indeed.”

Mrs Marwick maintained the fact that Jenny Gilruth was an unproven candidate would only affect her result by around five per cent.

“When there’s a surge towards a political party it’s no respecter of good people or bad people,” she said.

“The opposition parties have got to prove themselves credible, if not the public will look at them and prefer what they have at the moment - an SNP government and a charismatic First Minister.”

Mrs Marwick joined the SNP in 1985 when the party stood at just 8 per cent in the opinion polls.

Its achievements were “hard earned and easily lost as some political parties will now recognise,” she said..

Ms Marwick retires after swearing in a new Presiding Officer next week.

She said: “I’ve had more farewells than Frank Sinatra!”