An SNP MSP has denied that she was “pushed” to stand down at the next Holyrood election to make way for Stephen Flynn.
Audrey Nicoll told the Press and Journal she is no longer standing for selection in Aberdeen South and North Kincardine because of family circumstances and her being 65 at the next election.
It comes after SNP Westminster leader Flynn said he was standing for selection in her seat. The Aberdeen South MP sparked a backlash and later had to say he would not be seeking a dual mandate.
Nicoll said she understood why people are “drawing their conclusions” about her announcement that she would not be standing last week but insisted it was her choice.
Nicoll told the Press and Journal: “I want to make it clear I’ve not been pushed out. I have worked all my life and have worked with men all my life and I’m not in the habit of being told or pressurised with regard to what I should do particularly with my career.
“I think if I had made the decision to go for selection, I would have been a strong candidate. I’ve brought significant life experience into the parliament. I went to the parliament hitting the ground running and picked up the convenorship of one of the heaviest committees in the parliament with next to no political experience.”
There have been reports that Flynn and allies had a hit list of standing female MSPs they wanted to replace with ex MPs. But a source close to Flynn dismissed the claims, as did the only woman SNP MP Kirsty Blackman.
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