A senior SNP MP has said she would not rule out standing for the party leadership in a future contest.
Joanna Cherry said she could be a candidate in the “long term” and also revealed approaches had been made about her joining Labour and Alex Salmond’s Alba party.
Cherry, the MP for Edinburgh South West, was fired from her front bench role at Westminster last year after falling out with the party leadership.
She has openly criticised the SNP-led Government for its stance on trans rights and over the strategy for delivering independence.
In an Edinburgh Fringe Festival interview with comedian Matt Forde, she admitted she would like to be an MSP.
She said: “I don't want to be in opposition for the rest of my life, because I want to actually achieve something in politics. You can achieve some things in opposition, but the way you really achieve political change is to get into government.
“So, of course, I would love to be in the Scottish Parliament. I would love to be in an independent Scottish Parliament. I would love to be a minister in Government effecting change.”
She also addressed speculation that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon may stand down ahead of the next Holyrood election.
On whether she would be like to lead the Scottish government one day, which would require her to be party leader, she said:
“When Nicola stands down, it would be healthy for the SNP to have a leadership election. We've not had one since 2004. We're kind of overdue one. And that election should not be about personalities, it should be about ideas and policy and strategy.
“Clearly, the person who takes over from Nicola will have to be a member of the Scottish Parliament, because the SNP leader has to be capable of being First Minister. Clearly that's not me. So I'm not a candidate for the SNP leadership in the short term. I wouldn't rule myself out in the long term.
“I don't think you would expect a man like [SNP Westminster leader] Ian Blackford to rule it out, so why would you expect a woman like me to rule it out.”
She also said of her conversations with other parties: “I've had approaches from people in the Labour Party and people in the Alba party."
She added: “If I lived in England, I would definitely be a member of the Labour Party. I have a great affection for the Labour Party. After independence. I think the parties will realign themselves. And I would probably end up in a sort of Scottish Democratic Left Party or a Scottish Labour Party after independence.”
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