The SNP has raised fresh questions about the Scottish Labour leadership contest, claiming recent developments have cast doubt over the process to replace former Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

The party has described the contest as “murky” following the emergence of several candidates and claims surrounding the roles of senior Labour figures involved in the campaign.

Former South Lanarkshire Council leader Joe Fagan, Dundee MSP Michael Marra and Glasgow MSP Monica Lennon have all stepped forward to seek the leadership.

The SNP has questioned why South Lanarkshire councillor Maureen Devlin, who succeeded Joe Fagan as council leader, has been named as a campaign manager for Michael Marra, describing the situation as raising further questions about the contest.

The party also referred to previous controversy involving Joe Fagan and claims made by Labour sources that attempts are being made to prevent Monica Lennon from standing for the leadership.

Clare Haughey MSP said:

“Something very murky is going on within the Labour Party.

“Councillors that have spent years working with Joe Fagan are doing everything they can to stop him winning, what do they know which they are not telling the public?

“Controversy seems to follow Joe Fagan and, even though someone attempted this week to scrub his record clean, the public can see right through the Labour Party.

“Now people within the Labour Party are claiming stitch ups are taking place as this contest descends into a shambles.

“The Labour Party in Scotland are in a mess and unless they face up to the fundamental issue as to why they keep losing elections rather than fighting amongst themselves, this mess will end in their demise.

“That blindingly obvious issue is they continue to deny democracy to the Scottish people and a say over our own constitutional future.”