The Scottish Tories, who played a major part in the downfall of Henry McLeish as first minister, yesterday claimed they feared none of the possible contenders for the Labour crown.
David McLetchie, the party leader, said he looked forward ''with relish'' to taking on whoever Labour elected.
Opposition MSPs expressed a variety of views on who was likely to succeed Mr McLeish and what kind of qualities the new leader should have. Most believed Labour leaders in London such as Gordon Brown, the chancellor, and Tony Blair, the prime minister, should not intervene in the contest, but many thought they would not be able to resist the temptation.
The Liberal Democrats, as Labour's partners in the coalition, were reluctant to state a preference over the future leader.
Donald Gorrie, the independent-minded LibDem back-bencher, said: ''Obviously, Jack McConnell is a strong contestant as he was last time round against Henry McLeish. Since then, he seems to have handled the education brief well and this must put him in a strong position.''
It would be interesting, he said, to see the final line-up and stressed the LibDems would work with whoever was elected.
Tavish Scott, the LibDem MSP for Shetland, said he did not believe in getting involved in other people's election contests, but added that the decision over the leadership should properly be taken in Scotland.
George Lyon, his fellow LibDem MSP, said: ''The contest is nothing to do with us.''
''We will take charge of the country in the meantime, and make sure the coalition is stewarded well throughout the difficult weeks ahead.''
Brian Monteith, the Tory education spokesman, was not so reticent. He said that if Mr McConnell became Labour leader and first minister, he would be ''bad news'' for the SNP and would give John Swinney, its leader, a much tougher time in parliament than Mr McLeish had done.
''I think one of his advantages is that he doesn't display an especially dogmatic approach to the education brief and if he was to be similarly open-minded as first minister, I think he could be a popular choice and win over the doubters in his own party,'' he said.
Dennis Canavan, the Independent MSP who was once a Labour MP at Westminster, said he did not want to harm the chances of any contender by expressing a preference for them. Any intervention from London over the choice, he warned, could mean the new first minister was branded as ''Tony Blair's puppet''.
He believed a one-member-one-vote system for choosing the leader would be much more democratic than the present electoral college system.
Tommy Sheridan, leader of the Scottish Socialist Party, said that John McAllion, the left-wing Labour back bencher, would be the best leader.
''John represents the rapidly disappearing conscience of the Labour Party,'' he said. For the benefit of Scotland's pensioners and young people, he would like to see someone with his integrity in charge.
Tricia Marwick, the SNP MSP, agreed that Mr McConnell was the front-runner, but added that one to watch, if she threw her hat in the ring, was Cathy Jamieson, the Scottish Labour Party's deputy leader. ''I think she would get the vote of the left and the women's vote too,'' she said.
Kenneth Gibson, her colleague, predicted ''a desperate struggle'' by chancellor Gordon Brown's camp to stop the election of Mr McConnell, who was clearly the overwhelming favourite. He hoped the Labour Party in Scotland would make its own choice ''rather than tugging the forelock'' to London.
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