THE SNP is showing itself to be “rattled” by the threat posed by Jeremy Corbyn, a Labour MSP said yesterday after Alex Salmond predicted a second Scottish independence referendum.

Speaking on the eve of the anniversary of the 2014 vote, the former SNP leader argued that “support for independence is rising further than the high-water mark of last year.”

He attributed this to “the non-delivery of the vow, the austerity economics, Cameron’s gambling with Scotland’s European future and the unelectability of a divided Labour Party.”

Mr Salmond said: “Jeremy Corbyn’s problem is not so much the Tories or the deadwood press. His problem is the Labour Party and the Labour Party is now deeply divided. Divided parties can’t win elections.”

But Labour MSP Neil Findlay hit back, arguing that the comments showed the SNP to be “rattled” by Mr Corbyn.

He told the Star: “Alex Salmond knows that, with Corbyn as leader, we will start to attract people in Scotland back to Labour and we will expose the SNP’s anti-austerity rhetoric as nothing more substantial than hot air and spin.”

Former Corbyn campaign organiser Martyn Cook said the new Labour leader would ensure that “policy positions are reached by consensus.”

Mr Cook said Mr Corbyn’s openness to debate is “not the sign of a divided party, unlike the SNP, who fear their own members and supporters and resort to imposing decisions upon them.”

The comments come days after Mr Salmond accused Mr Corbyn of “infantile” behaviour for not singing God Save the Queen at the Battle of Britain memorial service.

This is despite the national anthem containing the lyrics: “Rebellious Scots to crush.”