Under-fire Stephen Flynn has said he is “ambitious” after being asked if he wants John Swinney’s job. The SNP Westminster leader said any contest to be party leader would be in the “dim and distant future” but pointedly refused to rule out wanting to succeed the First Minister.
Flynn has been attacked by colleagues after he said he wanted to stand for Holyrood in 2026 while remaining as an MP. He has been criticised for the double jobbing plan and trying to oust sitting SNP MSP Audrey Nicoll in Aberdeen South and North Kincardine – the Holyrood seat he is eyeing up.
Flynn toppled ex MP Ian Blackford to become SNP Westminster leader and party insiders believe he wants to replace Swinney as overall leader and FM.
In an interview with the BBC, the SNP MP was asked if he is on manoeuvres to secure the leadership. “So I’m ambitious,” he said. “I’m seriously ambitious for Aberdeen and for Scotland.”
He added: “I don’t believe that there’s going to be a leadership contest in the Scottish National Party for a long, long time, because John Swinney is going to win the Scottish Parliament elections.
“Should there be a future leadership election it will be in the dim and distant future.”
He said he would not take two salaries if elected to Holyrood, but said of the prospect of holding down two jobs: “The big discussions that are happening right now that impact the lives of the people who I represent are happening at Westminster. They are happening at Holyrood. I want a wee bit of that action.”
He said of the hostile reaction among colleagues to him challenging Nicoll: “There is always going to be a strong reaction to someone seeking to do things slightly differently.”
Flynn shot down claims he asked Nicoll to make way for him before he announced his plan last week: “That’s a lie.” He said: “I did call Audrey the night before. We had a fairly cordial conversation, albeit brief.” He added: “I don’t want to be having these discussions on television, trying to defend myself over lies and fabrications.
The Record reported last week that SNP Ministers killed a vote this month on banning double jobbing days before Flynn confirmed his intentions. The Government promised MSPs a consultation and floated an eventual ban, but only after the 2026 election.
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