The SNP is in the grip of a new bout of vicious infighting after the party's Westminster leader lodged a bid to be elected to Holyrood.
Stephen Flynn hopes to win a seat at the Scottish Parliament but also wants to keep his job in London, despite recently insisting being an MP is a ‘full-time job'.
He is now facing strong criticism from others in the party who have claimed he is ‘parking his tanks' on the Holyrood group's lawn.
A party source said: ‘The SNP should have its best people at Holyrood. The fact the rule was introduced to stop Joanna Cherry, the best legal thinker in the SNP, just shows the close-minded vindictiveness of Nicola Sturgeon's tenure as leader.'
Another said: ‘He is parking his tanks on their lawn and if he can come up with a credible independence strategy - and if he develops a proper policy platform - he may do well.
MP Stephen Flynn's announcement has led to a row among his party colleagues
‘There are some people in the SNP Holyrood group who are sort of blown away. He is the epitome of arrogance; he doesn't just think he is better than everyone else, sensa 138 he knows he is.'
‘We kind of need that audacity. He reminds me of a young Alex Salmond.'
Another senior SNP politician said: ‘Flynn is plainly wanting to be leader.'
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His announcement sparked a major backlash within the SNP, after the party previously changed rules to prevent MPs standing to be Holyrood candidates unless they stand down from Westminster first.
The move was widely seen as a bid to thwart then Edinburgh South-West MP Joanna Cherry from challenging party high-flyer Angus Robertson to be candidate for the key target seat of Edinburgh Central.
Following Mr Flynn's announcement yesterday, former SNP Health Secretary Alex Neil said: ‘Changing these rules every five minutes to suit a specific faction within the party is totally unacceptable and opens the party up to charges of unfairness and cronyism.
‘Little wonder so many people have lost trust in the SNP.'
Ms Cherry, who has now stood aside from frontline politics after losing in this year's general election, said: ‘I wish Stephen well. The SNP badly needs new blood at Holyrood.
SNP sources say the move shows Flynn's 'arrogance' as he plans to be an MP and an MSP
Flynn has said he has full confidence in first minister John Swinney but is widely expected to make a bid for the leadership if he is elected to Holyrood.
‘The rule against dual mandates introduced by the NEC (national executive committee) in 2021 was not "election specific" it was person specific. It served its purpose and I predict it will be removed.'
SNP MSP Emma Roddick, a former equalities minister, said: ‘Party members set this rule for good reasons. Rightly, Douglas Ross was criticised for holding two roles simultaneously. I hope Stephen Flynn rethinks.
‘Can't imagine spending half my time in London and being a good MSP.
‘Key that rules apply to everyone equally; men and women.'
Ms Roddick also told the Holyrood Sources podcast: ‘You would have to stand down from one. You cannot, I think, serve with a straight face if you have made clear to your constituents - one way or the other - that this role is your second choice.'
She also said it would be ‘indefensible' for the rules to change for the upcoming election and that ‘of course it would be hypocritical' for him to be an MP and MSP.
Mr Flynn is regarded as ruthlessly ambitious and is widely expected to seek to become John Swinney's successor if he is elected to the Scottish Parliament.
He announced yesterday in an article for the Press and Journal that he is seeking to become candidate for the Holyrood constituency of Aberdeen South and North Kincardine in 2026 - even though sitting MSP Audrey Nicoll, who was first elected in 2021, has not yet announced if she intends to seek another term.
Mr Flynn said he intended to remain MP for Aberdeen South if he is elected, but would not take a second parliamentary income.
But in an article written for the SNP's website last year, Mr Flynn said: ‘Being elected as an MP is a privilege and must never be treated as anything less than a full-time job.'
When former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross announced plans to continue as MP for Moray when standing for the Scottish Parliament in 2021, SNP MSP Richard Lochhead called for him to resign so ‘Moray can have a full-time voice in Westminster', and added that the ‘days of dual mandates should be consigned to history'.
Stephen Flynn hopes to win a seat at the Scottish Parliament but also wants to keep his job in London, despite recently insisting being an MP is a ‘full-time job'.
He is now facing strong criticism from others in the party who have claimed he is ‘parking his tanks' on the Holyrood group's lawn.
A party source said: ‘The SNP should have its best people at Holyrood. The fact the rule was introduced to stop Joanna Cherry, the best legal thinker in the SNP, just shows the close-minded vindictiveness of Nicola Sturgeon's tenure as leader.'
Another said: ‘He is parking his tanks on their lawn and if he can come up with a credible independence strategy - and if he develops a proper policy platform - he may do well.
MP Stephen Flynn's announcement has led to a row among his party colleagues
‘There are some people in the SNP Holyrood group who are sort of blown away. He is the epitome of arrogance; he doesn't just think he is better than everyone else, sensa 138 he knows he is.'
‘We kind of need that audacity. He reminds me of a young Alex Salmond.'
Another senior SNP politician said: ‘Flynn is plainly wanting to be leader.'
Read More
STEPHEN DAISLEY: There's not a sack big enough to contain all the ferrets fighting inside the SNP ranks
His announcement sparked a major backlash within the SNP, after the party previously changed rules to prevent MPs standing to be Holyrood candidates unless they stand down from Westminster first.
The move was widely seen as a bid to thwart then Edinburgh South-West MP Joanna Cherry from challenging party high-flyer Angus Robertson to be candidate for the key target seat of Edinburgh Central.
Following Mr Flynn's announcement yesterday, former SNP Health Secretary Alex Neil said: ‘Changing these rules every five minutes to suit a specific faction within the party is totally unacceptable and opens the party up to charges of unfairness and cronyism.
‘Little wonder so many people have lost trust in the SNP.'
Ms Cherry, who has now stood aside from frontline politics after losing in this year's general election, said: ‘I wish Stephen well. The SNP badly needs new blood at Holyrood.
SNP sources say the move shows Flynn's 'arrogance' as he plans to be an MP and an MSP
Flynn has said he has full confidence in first minister John Swinney but is widely expected to make a bid for the leadership if he is elected to Holyrood.
‘The rule against dual mandates introduced by the NEC (national executive committee) in 2021 was not "election specific" it was person specific. It served its purpose and I predict it will be removed.'
SNP MSP Emma Roddick, a former equalities minister, said: ‘Party members set this rule for good reasons. Rightly, Douglas Ross was criticised for holding two roles simultaneously. I hope Stephen Flynn rethinks.
‘Can't imagine spending half my time in London and being a good MSP.
‘Key that rules apply to everyone equally; men and women.'
Ms Roddick also told the Holyrood Sources podcast: ‘You would have to stand down from one. You cannot, I think, serve with a straight face if you have made clear to your constituents - one way or the other - that this role is your second choice.'
She also said it would be ‘indefensible' for the rules to change for the upcoming election and that ‘of course it would be hypocritical' for him to be an MP and MSP.
Mr Flynn is regarded as ruthlessly ambitious and is widely expected to seek to become John Swinney's successor if he is elected to the Scottish Parliament.
He announced yesterday in an article for the Press and Journal that he is seeking to become candidate for the Holyrood constituency of Aberdeen South and North Kincardine in 2026 - even though sitting MSP Audrey Nicoll, who was first elected in 2021, has not yet announced if she intends to seek another term.
Mr Flynn said he intended to remain MP for Aberdeen South if he is elected, but would not take a second parliamentary income.
But in an article written for the SNP's website last year, Mr Flynn said: ‘Being elected as an MP is a privilege and must never be treated as anything less than a full-time job.'
When former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross announced plans to continue as MP for Moray when standing for the Scottish Parliament in 2021, SNP MSP Richard Lochhead called for him to resign so ‘Moray can have a full-time voice in Westminster', and added that the ‘days of dual mandates should be consigned to history'.
