SCOTTISH Labour's deputy leader Anas Sarwar has urged MPs and MSPs to remain united after the party was thrown into turmoil by Johann Lamont's surprise resignation.

The Glasgow Central MP addressed MSPs in the city at lunchtime yesterday before flying south to speak to Scots MPs at Westminster.

He said his priorities as interim leader were to deliver a strong package of powers for Holyrood, keep the pressure on the Conservative and SNP Governments and to prepare for May's General Election.

He called on colleagues to pull together as former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and rising Holyrood stars Kezia Dugdale and Jenny Marra ruled themselves out of running for the top job. As expected, Mr Sarwar also confirmed he would not stand.

In a statement he said: "There is a crucial job to be done in this interim period.

"For the last three years it has been my priority to keep the UK family together, in this coming period I am clear that we will keep the Scottish Labour family together."

He added: "It is not my intention to publicly declare support for any candidate. That would be wrong in my role as interim leader. Rather, I will be fulfilling my responsibility to the members who elected me, asking the same questions of candidates as I am sure they will be."

During a two hour meeting of MSPs at the party's Glasgow HQ, it was agreed Jackie Baillie would face Alex Salmond at First Minister's Question on Thursday.

MSPs said possible leadership candidates were not discussed.

But as they left the meeting, many rejected veteran MSP Malcolm Chisholm's warning that it would be a "catastrophe" if an MP led the Scottish party.

One MSP said: "Whoever emerges from this leadership process has to have a clear ability to take the party forward and present the right political message. Finding the best person is more important than whether they are an MP or an MSP."

Party sources explained a Holyrood by-election held on the same day as the Westminster election in May would give Mr Murphy the best chance of a Scottish Parliament seat.

John Pentland, the MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, or Ken Macintosh, whose Eastwood constituency overlaps Mr Murphy's East Renfrewshire seat, may be persuaded to step down, it was suggested.

A number of MSPs and MPs yesterday called for Mr Sarwar to step aside as deputy leader to clear the way for a contest which could feature Holyrood education spokeswoman Kezia Dugdale or deputy finance spokeswoman Jenny Marra.

It would pave the way for a similar arrangement to that used by the SNP after Alex Salmond returned as leader in 2004.

Until he won a Holyrood seat in the 2007 election, his deputy Nicola Sturgeon served as the party's Scottish parliament leader, taking part in First Minister's Questions each week.

One MSP leaving yesterday's two-hour meeting at the party's Glasgow HQ admitted: "We're not in a good position. If Jim Murphy and Neil Findlay emerge as the candidates there will be a big battle between right and left and between Westminster and Holyrood."

Meantime at Westminster, Ed Miliband's spokesman declined to say who he would like to see as the new Scottish leader, saying only he wanted an "open contest" to take place.

Asked about Ms Lamont's criticism that the Scottish party was "just a branch office" of the party in London, he replied: "There are frustrations with any leadership position but we've led the way in making it a matter for the Scottish Labour Party to elect their leader. The Labour Party has been first and foremost in pushing the devolution agenda for more than a decade."

Asked about Ian Price, the Scottish General Secretary, being removed without Ms Lamont's say-so, the spokesman added: "Ian Price resigned. It's a matter for Ian Price."