SNP’s Stephen Flynn steps back from decision to pursue both MSP and MP jobs

SNP Westminster person Stephen Flynn has gone backmost connected an announcement that helium would beryllium pursuing a dual mandate arsenic an MSP and MP simultaneously.

Mr Flynn, the MP for Aberdeen South, announced earlier successful November that helium would besides tally for the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine spot astatine the 2026 Holyrood predetermination – a spot which is already held by SNP MSP Audrey Nicoll.

It would mean that if helium had won, his Holyrood and Westminster constituencies would overlap.

Hands up, I’ve got this 1 incorrect and won’t beryllium pursuing a dual mandate

Stephen Flynn

Mr Flynn said helium would stay an MP for Aberdeen South up until the adjacent wide election, and said helium would not instrumentality 2 salaries contempt moving some jobs.

He antecedently wrote successful the Press & Journal paper that his reasons for wanting to go an MSP were due to the fact that helium did not “want to beryllium retired the upcoming battles that our city, shire and state look successful Holyrood”.

Mr Flynn added: “In my mind, it is wide that we are astatine a important junction successful our nation’s story.

“As (Scotland’s First Minister) John Swinney rebuilds the SNP and refocuses his government, I consciousness that I tin lend towards the adjacent section and assistance physique the lawsuit for independence.

“And, successful doing so, I’ll purpose to beryllium arsenic unashamed arsenic ever successful putting Aberdeen and Scotland first.”

However, connected Thursday evening Mr Flynn announced helium “got this 1 wrong” and would nary longer beryllium pursuing some jobs.

He said: “Hands up, I’ve got this 1 incorrect and won’t beryllium pursuing a dual mandate.

“My purpose to prevention the nationalist purse from unnecessary strain by perchance overlapping the relation of an MP and an MSP for a abbreviated play until the adjacent wide predetermination was genuine successful its intent – but doing it for the close reasons doesn’t alteration the information that I got it wrong.

“My information and cardinal content remains that Holyrood, arsenic the bosom of Scottish democracy, is the antiauthoritarian level that volition thrust the way to an autarkic Scotland.

“All of america successful the independency question stock that communal origin and privation to beryllium portion of that story.

“Alongside each SNP members, I present look guardant to assessing the caller campaigner enactment rules that my enactment volition enactment successful place.”

It comes aft Mr Flynn faced backlash and warnings implicit the move.

On Thursday morning, nationalist concern curate and SNP MSP Ivan McKee spoke connected BBC Radio Scotland, wherever helium praised his colleague’s talent, but cautioned against moving some jobs.

He said: “I deliberation double-jobbing – moving arsenic an MP and an MSP – isn’t sustainable.

“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 was 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.

The nationalist merit amended than nationalists prioritising their ain vocation options, alternatively than addressing what Scots are truly acrophobic about

Rachael Hamilton, Scottish Conservatives

“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 say, I deliberation the thought that you tin bash some those jobs and springiness them owed attraction is not sustainable.”

The Scottish Conservatives branded the determination a “humiliating U-turn”.

Deputy person Rachael Hamilton said: “This is simply a humiliating U-turn for Stephen Flynn.

“His plans were emblematic of arrogant SNP politicians who deliberation determination should beryllium 1 regularisation for them and different for everyone else.

“However, adjacent radical successful his ain enactment saw close done his fertile hypocrisy and made their feelings known.

“The nationalist merit amended than nationalists prioritising their ain vocation options, alternatively than addressing what Scots are truly concerned about.”