MP Philippa Whitford highlights Westminster toxicity as she announces her retirement
The Central Ayrshire MP says it risks putting people off politics
An Ayrshire MP is calling out the toxicity of Westminster, saying it risks putting people off joining politics, as she becomes the eighth SNP MP to announce they won't be running in the next election.
Dr Philippa Whitford is the eighth SNP MP to step back, but she says her reasons are not to do with divides in the party.
The Central Ayrshire MP announced her decision yesterday to retire at next year’s general election.
She said in a statement on Twitter: “Working as an MP at Westminster has changed over the last eight years, especially after Boris Johnson became Prime Minister and aggression and contempt towards SNP MPs, and indeed Scotland, became the norm.
"Toxic legacy"
“While he is gone, his toxic legacy remains and only time will tell if this changes after the next election.”
Earlier this month, Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP, Mhairi Black, announced her own decision to step back from politics, labelling Westminster as “outdated, sexist, and toxic” in her statement.
Speaking to West FM, Dr Whitford said: “the atmosphere in the three parliaments I’ve been in, the David Cameron, the Theresa May, and the Boris Johnson one, were quite different.
“Certainly, after Boris Johnson took over, there was quite a degree od toxicity which still remains.”
She added that for women in politics, the problem is exacerbated, adding: “women politicians will be criticised on how they look or what they wear, all of these kinds of things that I think does undermine attracting people into politics.
“It should be about agreeing to disagree, it should be about debating, it shouldn’t be about personal attack.”
The 64 year old said though that her decision had been made in spring, before the recent flock of MPs stepping down.
Dr Whitford stressed this decision will allow her to follow her own interests and hobbies, as well as spending more time with her family.
Message to her constituents
She added: “I want to thank all the people who both voted for me in the elections of the last eight years, and all those who have both worked with me, or supported what I was doing.
“Particularly also to my family, the toll that an MP family face is quite significant, it’s a lot for them to put up with.
“I think they’ll be notching off the days even more than I will.”