Stephen Flynn would be a "brilliant asset" to Holyrood, says Kate Forbes
The Deputy First Minister was reacting to Mr Flynn's plans to run in the 2026 Scottish Parliament Elections
The Deputy First Minister says she welcomes Stephen Flynn’s decision to announce his plans to stand in the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.
Kate Forbes said the Aberdeen South MP would be a “brilliant asset” to Holyrood, adding he is “exactly the kind of person” needed.
Mr Flynn announced on Monday that he intends to stand in 2026, competing for the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat, which is currently held by SNP MSP Audrey Nicol.
His announcement was met with some criticism from within the party, after he said he would continue to keep his current job as the MP for Aberdeen South until the next General Election in 2029.
"Exactly the kind of person" needed at Holyrood
The SNP Westminster leader stressed yesterday he would not take two salaries is he was elected to Holyrood while still being a sitting MP.
He said: “Hopefully with the support of members and then hopefully with the support of the public, I can end up in Holyrood, sitting alongside the likes of John Swinney, Kate Forbes, Màiri McAllen, Jenny Gilruth, and others, not just for Scotland to thrive under an SNP government, but for Scotland to ultimately become an independent nation.”
Kate Forbes told Forth 1: “We want as many good, talented people representing communities in the Scottish Parliament, so I welcome Stephen Flynn’s indication that he intends to stand for Holyrood.”
Mr Flynn had previously criticised former Scottish Tory leader Mr Ross for taking up positions at Holyrood and Westminster at the same time.
"Hopefully with the support of the public"
Ms Forbes is also among the many SNP politicians who have attacked Mr Ross for having had multiple jobs, including as a football referee.
The Deputy First Minister wrote on social media last year: "Douglas 'three jobs' Ross hardly spends any time in Scot Parl or speaking to his own party colleagues.
"Which is only one of the many, many reasons why I've never said more than a passing hello to him since he was elected. Conference hyperbole compensating for a failed Tory Gov."
Commenting on this to Forth 1 she said: “That’s clearly subject to internal processes which are not for me to decide on, that is for our party mechanisms and national executive committee to determine, and they will do so.
"It's for the people to decide who is best to represent them"
“At the end of the day, we operate in a democracy, and I believe it’s for the people to decide who is best to represent them.”
SNP MSP Emma Roddick said on Monday that she hopes Mr Flynn will "rethink" his decision to hold two seats at once.
She said on X: "Party members set this rule for good reasons. Rightly, Douglas Ross was criticised for holding two roles simultaneously."
But Mr Flynn won support from former SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who was prevented from running for Holyrood in 2021 due to the SNP's rules around MPs becoming MSPs.
She said: "I wish Stephen well. The SNP badly needs new blood at Holyrood.
"The rule against dual mandates introduced by the NEC in 2021 was not 'election specific', it was person specific. It served its purpose and I predict it will be removed."