The SNP’s Westminster chief Stephen Flynn stated get together infighting over his bid to face on the 2026 Scottish Parliament election has been unedifying.
Flynn at present represents the constituency of Aberdeen South within the Home of Commons.
However final week the MP introduced he intends to face for the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat at Holyrood, at present held by the SNP’s Audrey Nicoll.
Flynn confirmed he would purpose to carry his Westminster seat till the following basic election, due in 2029, however wouldn’t settle for two salaries.
His announcement, in The Press and Journal newspaper, has precipitated anger inside the SNP.
Flynn informed BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Present: “None of that is notably edifying for anybody.
“I do not wish to be doing this, I do not wish to be having these discussions on tv, making an attempt to defend myself.
“However that is the truth of politics typically – it is not nice.
“I am not going to shrink back, I am not going to be hounded out from standing for what I consider in.”
Flynn stated that in politics there was all the time going to be a robust response to individuals looking for to do issues in a different way.
‘Not a pleasing scenario’
Requested whether or not Nicoll was indignant at him when he informed her he wished to problem her for her seat, he stated: “No.”
“She informed me she wasn’t overly stunned,” he added.
He stated it was “not a pleasing scenario” for him or Nicoll.
Flynn revealed he referred to as her the night time earlier than he introduced his plan to face however explicitly denied asking Nicoll to face apart for him.
He stated the pair had a “pretty cordial dialog” the place he made clear his intentions.
Flynn added that he hoped the marketing campaign may very well be carried out in good religion and in good spirit.
However a supply near Nicoll informed BBC Scotland Information that she felt there was an “underlying inference” within the cellphone name that he wished her to step apart.
The decision between the pair would doubtless have taken place sooner, Flynn stated, had it not been for “vital goings on in Aberdeen regionally”.
This was an obvious reference to Nicoll’s husband, and former Aberdeen Metropolis Council co-leader, Alex Nicoll quitting the get together and criticising its selections within the metropolis.
Forward of the 2021 election, the SNP modified inside guidelines to require MPs to resign their seat at Westminster to struggle for choice to Holyrood.
The transfer was extensively seen as an try to forestall then-Edinburgh South West MP and frequent inside get together critic Joanna Cherry from standing.
The get together’s ruling physique – the Nationwide Govt Committee (NEC) – might resolve to scrap the rule for contests forward of 2026.
Flynn has stated he understood that rule to be “election particular”.
He stated: “The principles don’t preclude me from standing – that may be a call for the NEC.”
First Minister John Swinney stated final week that the SNP had but to decide on whether or not its politicians might maintain a twin mandate – the place a single particular person sits in each Westminster and Holyrood.
Swinney, who held seats at each Westminster and Holyrood between 1999 and 2001, informed BBC Scotland Information: “We’ve had instances up to now once we’ve had twin mandates – I had a twin mandate myself for 2 years within the early days of devolution.
“The get together has received to return to its conclusions about these explicit points and it’ll do within the fullness of time.”
Flynn additionally revealed that Swinney had been conscious of his plans prematurely of the announcement.
He added: “The individuals who wanted to know what my intentions have been, have been conscious of what my intentions have been.”
Flynn has been tipped as a future SNP chief, however he stated there wouldn’t be a contest to interchange Swinney for a “lengthy, very long time”.
He stated any management election could be within the “dim and distant future”.
Flynn added that he wished to maintain his Westminster seat, which overlaps with a part of the Holyrood seat he hopes to contest, to keep away from inflicting a expensive by-election.
He additionally reiterated that he wouldn’t settle for a second parliamentary wage.
The get together beforehand criticised former Scottish Conservative chief Douglas Ross for holding seats at Westminster and Holyrood, in addition to being an expert soccer referee.
Talking on the SNP convention in August, Flynn joked about Ross having “one too many work commitments”.
And in 2021, SNP MSP Karen Adam claimed Ross was “failing” his constituents “by considering he can do each jobs correctly”.
Flynn’s feedback got here after the SNP introduced on Saturday that the NEC was looking for to reduce 10 of the get together’s 26 headquarters jobs.
A session with workers has opened, together with a voluntary redundancy scheme, in a push to carry down prices for a celebration which has struggled to draw main donors.
Flynn described the transfer as a “robust, however essential, choice”.
The Westminster chief was additionally requested in regards to the row over Scottish Well being Secretary Neil Grey utilizing a ministerial automobile to attend soccer video games.
However he insisted it was “not a scandal”.
Grey, whose portfolio consists of sport, has been underneath fireplace after it emerged he had been chauffeured to 6 soccer matches at Hampden since changing into a minister, 4 of which included the group he helps.
The Aberdeen fan apologised final week in a ministerial assertion and conceded he ought to have went to a “wider vary” of soccer matches.
Flynn defended Grey and informed The Sunday Present: “Our sports activities minister going to sporting occasions isn’t a scandal.
“He is doing his job and he is doing his job to one of the best of his skill.”
He added: “What tends to occur in politics is you are inclined to create relationships, have discussions with individuals and that might solely occur by being in these locations at sure instances.
“Neil is a big sports activities fan, I feel it is proper that he, as sports activities minister, goes to sporting matches, I am struggling to see what the scandal is.”
However talking on the identical programme, Scottish Labour deputy chief Jackie Baillie stated the problem was a scandal.
She added: “You could take into consideration what your priorities are.
“When social care is in disaster, why are you going to soccer video games?”
And Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy stated his get together had made “the very affordable ask” of the Scottish authorities for minutes of the conferences held on the matches to be revealed.