Margo MacDonald, the SNP legend turned Independent MSP, has said she may prop up Labour in a close-run coalition after May's elections, rather than help her old party into power.

In an interview this week at Edinburgh's Stand Comedy Club, Mrs MacDonald also said that if she had to kill another MSP it would be Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader at Holyrood.

She said that as well Ms Sturgeon having "unfortunate hair", her crime was to upbraid Mrs MacDonald for deviating from the party line nine years ago.

The result was a "reciprocal" feud which has lasted ever since, she said.

In contrast, Mrs MacDonald said she liked First Minister Jack McConnell, his Health Minister Andy Kerr, and in particular the "lovely" Liberal Democrat Transport Minister Tavish Scott, who recently took part in the Up Helly Aa festival in Shetland. She said: "That Tavish Scott is nice. He burns boats and things."

Mrs MacDonald became an SNP icon by defeating Labour in the Govan by-election in 1973, but decided to quit the party in 2003 amid bitter in-fighting. Asked if she would support SNP leader Alex Salmond or Mr McConnell in a finely-balanced Holyrood chamber, she said it was very possible she and other "Indies" could play a key role.

"It would be stupid to say at this stage in the game, because quite seriously Scotland's future could be at stake. I would want to do a lot of thinking. Don't automatically assume that because I want sovereignty I would vote for the SNP leaderor that I would vote for Jack."

Headlining the first of the Stand's monthly forays into political comedy, Mrs MacDonald was applauded for attacking the Chancellor as a born-again Brit: "All this nonsense about the best goal he's ever seen and he wraps himself in the flag of St George. He's losing his dignity, he's losing his marbles."

She also said ecstasy should be legalised, produced to a pharmaceutical standard, and controlled.