SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has suffered another blow after a Scottish Government Minister declared his opposition to double jobbing. Ivan McKee said working as an MP and MSP “isn’t sustainable” after Flynn controversially announced plans for a ‘dual mandate’.
Flynn angered SNP colleagues by saying he wants to seek selection as an SNP candidate for Holyrood in 2026 while holding on to his Westminster seat in Aberdeen South. Colleagues are furious he intends to elbow sitting MSP Audrey Nicoll out of the way and believe he has undermined the SNP’s opposition to double jobbing.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, public finance minister McKee praised Flynn’s talent, but cautioned against double-jobbing. “I think double-jobbing – working as an MP and an MSP – isn’t sustainable,” he said.
“I’ve got a full-time job as an MSP and a minister, I gave up work that I had, a consultancy and a directorship that I had that was paid work. I didn’t need to give it up when I came into Parliament, (but) I recognised that this was a full-time job that needs a full-time commitment.”
Asked if Flynn should resign his Westminster seat if he gets elected to Holyrood, McKee said: “I think Stephen’s got huge talent, he’s got a lot to offer to the party and the country in the years to come. I think you’ll know that the SNP is one of the most democratic parties, where members can stand to challenge sitting MSPs, and that applies to all of us.
“There was quite a number of those challenges in the last cycle, and that’s to be welcomed. Stephen has got every right to stand in a vacant seat or challenge another sitting member, of course he can, but as I say I think the idea that you can do both those jobs and give them due attention is not sustainable.”
Flynn and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes are tipped as future leadership contenders in the event of First Minister John Swinney standing down. McKee is an ally of Forbes.
The MP’s double jobbing dream could be blocked by Holyrood if an amendment to elections legislation banning dual mandates is passed. Labour and the Greens will back Tory MSP Graham Simpson’s amendment to stop MPs from serving at Holyrood for longer than eight days.
The Lib Dems are considering the proposal and the SNP, which in recent years has been hostile to double jobbing, will be under pressure to support the amendment. The vote is expected before Christmas.
The Times also reported that the SNP could again implement a ban on dual mandates they pushed through ahead of the last Holyrood election. At that point, the SNP had a rule requiring MPs who wanted to stand for Holyrood to first resign their Westminster seat.
The change was widely seen as an attempt to stop the then Edinburgh South West MP Joanna Cherry – a frequent critic of the party hierarchy – from taking a seat in the Scottish Parliament. It remains for the party’s ruling body – the national executive committee – to decide if the policy will remain in place for the 2026 election.
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