Double-jobbing as MP and MSP ‘not sustainable’, says Scottish minister

A subordinate of the Scottish Government has weighed into the enactment astir double-jobbing arsenic 1 of his enactment colleagues is vying to beryllium an MP and MSP.

SNP Westminster person Stephen Flynn announced past week helium volition question the information for the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine spot astatine Holyrood presently held by the party’s Audrey Nicoll.

But the announcement caused a tempest wrong and out-with the enactment aft Mr Flynn said helium would look to support his spot astatine Westminster until the adjacent election.

The SNP has been vocal successful its disapproval of dual mandates, repeatedly attacking erstwhile Scottish Conservative person Douglas Ross erstwhile helium sat successful some parliaments.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland connected Thursday, nationalist concern curate and SNP MSP Ivan McKee praised Mr Flynn’s talent, but cautioned against double-jobbing.

“I deliberation double-jobbing – moving arsenic an MP and an MSP – isn’t sustainable,” helium said.

“I’ve got a full-time occupation arsenic an MSP and a minister, I gave up enactment that I had, a consultancy and a directorship that I had that was paid work.

“I didn’t request to springiness it up erstwhile I came into Parliament, (but) I recognised that this was a full-time occupation that needs a full-time commitment.”

Asked if Mr Flynn should resign his Westminster spot – which overlaps with a information of the constituency helium is seeking astatine Holyrood – Mr McKee said: “I deliberation Stephen’s got immense talent, he’s got a batch to connection to the enactment and the state successful the years to come.

“I deliberation you’ll cognize that the SNP is 1 of the astir antiauthoritarian parties, wherever members tin basal to situation sitting MSPs, and that applies to each of us.

“There was rather a fig of those challenges successful the past cycle, and that’s to beryllium welcomed.

“Stephen has got each close to basal successful a vacant spot oregon situation different sitting member, of people helium can, but arsenic I accidental I deliberation the thought that you tin bash some those jobs and springiness them owed attraction is not sustainable.”

Ahead of the 2021 Holyrood election, the SNP implemented a regularisation aimed astatine stopping MPs from being capable to basal for Holyrood without archetypal resigning their Westminster seat.

The alteration was wide seen arsenic an effort to halt the past Edinburgh South West MP Joanna Cherry – a predominant professional of the enactment hierarchy – from taking a spot successful the Scottish Parliament.

It remains for the party’s ruling assemblage – the nationalist enforcement committee – to determine if the argumentation volition stay successful spot for the 2026 election.

Speaking astatine the weekend, Mr Flynn said the concern was “not peculiarly pleasant” and helium unopen down suggestions his attempted determination to Holyrood is simply a bid to manoeuvre himself into presumption to beryllium the adjacent enactment leader.