THE SNP chief who aims to double-job as an MP and MSP previously claimed it wasn’t “practically possible” to even be a local councillor at the same time as being in Westminster.
The 2020 comments from Nats Westminster Stephen Flynn sparked fresh backlash over his bid to move to Holyrood while remaining in the Commons.
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A string of SNP MSPs are among those who have blasted Mr Flynn for – despite previous criticism of dual mandates held in the past by politicians including ex Scottish Tory chief Douglas Ross.
Now it’s emerged that in January 2020, Mr Flynn – elected as MP for Aberdeen South in December 2019 – said he would step down as an Aberdeen councillor due to the twin commitments.
Mr Flynn said at the time: “I have also consistently stated that it is not practically possible to serve a full term in a parliament and dedicate time to be an effective local councillor.”
Last night, Scottish Labour MSP Martin Whitfield said “Stephen Flynn’s plans have suffered a devastating rebuke – from Stephen Flynn.
“This embarrassing contradiction shows that the SNP don’t think the rules apply to them.
“Being an MP or an MSP is a full-time job and Scottish Labour will back plans to end double-jobbing and give Scots the representation they deserve.”
Scottish Tory MSP Graham Simpson, who is bidding to outlaw MSPs from being an MP at the same time, said: “Stephen Flynn thought it was right to stand down as a councillor.
“So even he must realise that it would be the right thing to do to resign as an MP if he is elected to the Scottish Parliament.
“This is why we need to ban double jobbing, so the decision is not left to politicians.”
MSPs could vote to ban MSPs sitting as MPs as soon as Christmas under Mr Simpson’s plans, with opposition parties already signalling their backing for the move.
He is to re-table an amendment to planned elections legislation to ban “dual mandates”.
Under the idea, all MPs elected to Holyrood would need to resign from Westminster within eight days.
We told last week how Mr Flynn’s move sparked an internal backlash partly as it would involve ousting SNP’s Aberdeen South and North Kincardine MSP, Audrey Nicoll.
His fellow SNP MSP even branded Mr Flynn a “p***k” in a dig on X/Twitter.
Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said: “Most of all this story shows the unbelievable arrogance of Stephen Flynn.
“Not only is he now proclaiming that he can do two demanding jobs at once, he is seeking to unseat an SNP colleague in Audrey Nicoll who is widely respected across parties for her work as convenor of the justice committee.”
Mr Flynn has been asked for comment.
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