An SNP MEP who is standing to be the party's depute leader has declared he is open to a referendum on the monarchy after independence.

Alyn Smith, who is one of four people who have declared their intention to run in the contest, has opened up a possible change in the party's current policy.

In an online question-and-answer session, Smith said: "I want to see the people of Scotland in charge of Scotland's future so, once we regain independence, I would be up for a referendum on the subject and the people will choose, but lets do it after independence so we can have a proper debate about the subject in its own right.

"There are monarchies I like, and there are republics I like, so long as the people have chosen I'll respect that choice."

The party previously supported a referendum on the monarchy but moved away from it while in government.

At the 2014 referendum on independence, the party's white paper proposed that: "Scotland will remain a constitutional monarchy with Her Majesty The Queen as head of state ... if a party in favour of changing this position was to gain enough support to form a government, it would be open to it to propose a change.

"The current Scottish Government does not support such a change."

The Scottish Conservative's deputy leader Jackson Carlaw called it a "dog-whistle policy gimmick".

Carlaw said: "This is typical of SNP rhetoric aimed at appeasing the more extreme elements of its support.

"There is no appetite in Scotland for a referendum on the monarchy, and nor is there one for a referendum re-run. As such, Mr Smith is wrong on both counts.

"Rather than attempting to revive his flagging deputy leader ambitions within the SNP with dog-whistle policy gimmicks, he could set an example to the rest of his party by focusing on the things people of Scotland genuinely want, such as a Scottish Government that finally focuses on addressing its ever lengthening list of policy failures."

Nominations for the SNP's depute leader contest closes on August 5. Candidates must have 100 nominations from members from across at least 20 branches.