It was just one week ago when the SNP’s new Westminster leader Stephen Flynn boasted of his party’s “positive and proactive” efforts to prevent nurses’ strikes north of the border. He even asked when Westminster would “follow Scotland’s lead“. Well, this afternoon, members of the Royal College of Nursing Scotland voted to strike in the new year. Take notes, Rishi…
Stephen Flynn’s purge of Ian Blackford loyalists is continuing in earnest. The SNP’s new leader in Westminster is promising a “new-look team” over the next week, with Chief Whip Owen Thompson the first up for the chop last night, replaced by staunch Sturgeon supporter Martin Docherty-Hughes. Blackford’s allies had called for Thompson to stick around as a demonstration of unity. Flynn had other ideas.
That was followed this morning by the resignation of veteran SNP MP Pete Wishart, who left the frontbench as the Westminster group’s DEFRA spokesperson. His resignation letter, published just now, doesn’t exactly lavish the new leader with praise…
“…I remain bemused as to the reasons why you felt it was necessary to seek a change in our leadership […] We never had an opportunity to discuss your plans for the group.”
Expect more chopping and changing over the coming days…
UPDATE: Stewart McDonald has quit as the SNP’s defence spokesperson:
Serving as my party’s defence spokesperson has been a job I’ve loved. Today I’ve decided it’s time for a change.
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) December 8, 2022
I wish @StephenFlynnSNP and @MhairiBlack every success. I’ll be cheering them on from the backbenches. pic.twitter.com/XWh16LAVFZ
