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Labour MSPs will go straight from Wednesday's crucial Holyrood vote, which is likely to see Alex Salmond become the first SNP First Minister, to a two-day closed meeting which could decide Jack McConnell's future.

In spite of speculation over the weekend about if or when he might step down or be ousted, and who might succeed him as Labour leader, none of the key names was owning up to this last night.

The most widely-named candidate for the succession, Wendy Alexander, issued a statement last night stressing: "Jack McConnell is both serving Scottish Labour leader and still Scotland's First Minister. There is no vacancy and he has my support."

One report at the weekend had several Labour women MSPs meeting to plot Ms Alexander's leadership campaign over a Chinese meal, prompting jibes from political opponents about the "prawn cracker conspiracy" and the "sweet n' sour coup".

Those present at the event at the home of Pauline McNeill, the MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, said describing the gathering in terms of a plot is laughable. It was simply a get-together involving friends, many accompanied by their children, after a month of hectic electioneering.

"I was astonished to discover that me having a Chinese takeaway was front page news," said Jackie Baillie, the Dumbarton MSP. "It was simply a gathering of old pals with their kids. Wendy wasn't even there by the time the food arrived.

"Yes, we gathered as friends and yes, we had a Chinese meal, but simply as a group that get together socially from time to time. The laugh is that the biggest debate wasn't about Jack or the leadership but about which rooms we wanted at Holyrood."

The other flaw in the "sweet n' sour conspiracy" theory is that should Mr McConnell decide to stand down, some of those present could be rival contenders with Ms Alexander to succeed him. Margaret Curran was present, as were Johann Lamont, Sarah Boyack and Karen Gillon.

There was also speculation that if Mr McConnell does not stand down Charles Gordon, the Glasgow Cathcart MSP, would seek to force a contest, but he said last night: "There is no vacancy and I am not going to comment on speculation."

Meanwhile, Home Secretary John Reid was yesterday urged to take over the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party following the election defeat.

Labour MP Brian Donohoe suggested that Mr Reid could come to Scotland to lead the party after he stands down as Home Secretary.

The Central Ayrshire MP said: "He John Reid said he had had nine jobs in 10 years - maybe this should be his 10th job."

He added there should a by-election in one of the party's Holyrood seats, which Mr Reid could then contest. Once elected as an MSP, he could then become the party leader.

12:15am Monday 14th May 2007

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