Stephen Flynn will not seek dual mandate to become MSP

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn says he will not seek a dual mandate to stand as an MSP in the Scottish Parliament while remaining an MP.

Flynn, who represents Aberdeen South in the House of Commons, said: “Hands up, I’ve got this one wrong.”

He previously said he would aim to hold his Westminster seat until the next general election, due in 2029, but would not accept two salaries.

The Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat at Holyrood is currently held by the SNP’s Audrey Nicoll.

Flynn said he had sought a dual mandate “for the right reasons” but it did not change the fact he had got it wrong.

He said: “My aim to save the public purse from unnecessary strain by potentially overlapping the role of an MP and an MSP for a short period until the next general Election was genuine in its intent.

“Alongside all SNP members, I now look forward to assessing the new candidate selection rules that my party will put in place.”

Flynn’s intention to stand had caused anger within his party.

Ahead of the 2021 election, the SNP changed internal rules to require MPs to resign their seat at Westminster to fight for selection to Holyrood.

The party’s ruling body – the National Executive Committee (NEC) – could decide to scrap the rule for contests ahead of 2026.

First Minister John Swinney said last week that the SNP had yet to make a decision on whether its politicians could hold a dual mandate – where a single person sits in both Westminster and Holyrood.

Swinney, who held seats at both Westminster and Holyrood between 1999 and 2001, told BBC Scotland News: “We’ve had times in the past when we’ve had dual mandates – I had a dual mandate myself for two years in the early days of devolution.

“The party has got to come to its conclusions about these particular issues and it will do in the fullness of time.”