Stephen Flynn

For other people named Stephen Flynn, see Stephen Flynn (disambiguation).

The Right Honourable Stephen Flynn MP
Official portrait, 2024
Leader of the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 December 2022
Deputy	Mhairi Black Pete Wishart
SNP Party Leader	Nicola Sturgeon Humza Yousaf John Swinney
Preceded by	Ian Blackford
SNP Spokesperson for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in the House of Commons
In office 1 February 2021 – 6 December 2022
Leader	Ian Blackford
Preceded by	Drew Hendry
Succeeded by	Alan Brown (Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South
Incumbent
Assumed office 12 December 2019
Preceded by	Ross Thomson
Majority	3,758 (8.1%)
Personal details
Born	Stephen Mark Flynn (1988-10-13) 13 October 1988 (age 36) Dundee, Scotland
Political party	Scottish National Party
Spouse	Lynn Flynn
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Dundee

Stephen Mark Flynn^[1] (born 13 October 1988)^[2] is a Scottish politician who has served as the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the House of Commons since December 2022.^[3] He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Aberdeen South since 2019.^[4]

Early life and career

Member for Aberdeen South

Stephen Flynn was born on 13 October 1988 in Dundee, and went to school in Brechin and Dundee. He studied at the University of Dundee, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons) in history and politics, and a Master of Letters (MLitt) degree in international politics and security studies.^[5]

Flynn previously worked as an assistant to Callum McCaig and in the office of Maureen Watt in Aberdeen.^[6][7]

Flynn was first elected to Aberdeen City Council for the Kincorth/Nigg/Cove Ward in 2015 and served as leader of the SNP group on Aberdeen City Council from 2016 till his election to Parliament in 2019.^[8] Flynn resigned as a councillor on the grounds that he could not effectively serve on the council and as an MP at the same time, saying to The Press and Journal, "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."^[9]

Parliamentary career

Flynn was elected to Parliament as MP for Aberdeen South at the 2019 general election with 45% of the vote and a majority of 3,990 votes.^{[10][11][12][13]} Following his election, Flynn was appointed to the role of Shadow SNP Deputy Spokesperson (Treasury – Financial Secretary).^[14] He was promoted to the front bench in February 2021 as Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy).^[14] Flynn was re-elected to Parliament as MP for Aberdeen South with a decreased vote share of 32.8% and a decreased majority of 3,758.^[15][16]

SNP Westminster leader

See also: Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn

Flynn speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, 7 February 2024

Following the decision of Ian Blackford to stand down as the SNP Westminster Group Leader, Flynn announced his candidacy for the role, defeating Alison Thewliss 26–17 in a vote of Scottish National Party MPs.^{[17][18][19][20]} His appointment to His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council was announced on 28 March 2024 as part of the 2024 Special Honours, thereby granting him the title The Right Honourable for life.^[21]

Flynn's leadership came at a time of a cost of living crisis and when the United Kingdom's Supreme Court set out that the Scottish Parliament does not have the devolved competence to hold an independence referendum without the consent of the British Government. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had set out plans for the next election to the House of Commons to be a proxy referendum on independence, putting the Frontbench Team at the centre of a constitutional campaign within Scotland.

In February 2024, Flynn was highly critical of the role of the speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle during a parliamentary debate on a Gaza ceasefire motion.^[22] Flynn stated that "he and his party has been treated with utter contempt and would need "significant convincing" that the Speaker's position was "not now intolerable".^[23] The SNP motion was criticised by, amongst others, David Lammy, who stated that "The SNP motion appears one sided. For any ceasefire to work, it must, by necessity, be observed by both sides, or it is not a ceasefire...Israelis have the right to the assurance that the horror of 7 October cannot happen again."^[24]

In the 2024 general election, the SNP suffered huge losses losing the vast majority of their seats.^[25] As a result, Flynn unveiled a new much slimmed down frontbench including himself, Pete Wishart as his deputy and Kirsty Blackman as chief whip.^[26] On 23 July 2024, Labour withdrew the whip from 7 of its MPs who had supported an amendment tabled by Flynn to scrap the two-child benefit cap that was introduced by the Cameron–Clegg coalition in 2013, with Flynn claiming that scrapping the cap would immediately raise 300,000 children out of poverty. MPs rejected the SNP amendment by 363 votes to 103.^[27][28]

Double jobbing controversy 2024

In November 2024, Flynn announced his candidacy for the SNP nomination in Aberdeen South and North Kincardine for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election whilst remaining as the MP for Aberdeen South in Westminster.^[29][30] His plan to potentially hold two parliamentary seats at the same time sparked significant controversy, as SNP rules require MPs to resign Westminster seats before seeking Holyrood selection. Flynn claimed these rules were "election-specific."^[29]

The announcement faced backlash from within the SNP and opposition parties. In particular Joanna Cherry and George Adam criticized the decision, while incumbent MSP Audrey Nicoll reaffirmed her intent to run.^[31] Emma Roddick’s criticism highlighted tensions within the SNP, prompting calls for unity from Shirley-Anne Somerville.^[32][33][34] Critics, including the Scottish Conservatives and Labour, supported motions to ban dual mandates.^{[29][35][36][37][38]} Flynn abandoned his plan on November 21, 2024, stating he would not pursue a dual mandate.^[39]

Personal life

Flynn is married to Lynn Flynn with two children.^[40] His father Mark Flynn is a Dundee City councillor who was elected as leader of the council in August 2024.^[41]

Flynn has suffered from a serious condition called avascular necrosis since his teens and underwent a hip replacement for it in 2020.^[42] In 2023, he told The News Agents "I was disabled" before the operation, and had walked with a crutch for eighteen years, which led to him reading more as a child.^[43]

References

1. "Members Sworn". Hansard.parliament.uk. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
2. Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. HarperCollins Publishers Limited. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574.
3. "Stephen Flynn elected as new SNP leader at Westminster". BBC News. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
4. "General Election 2019: Aberdeen South Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
5. "Getting to know you: Stephen Flynn". Holyrood. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
6. Beattie, Kieran (16 March 2016). "Aberdeen's SNP council group announce new leader". Retrieved 16 November 2023.
7. Rhodes, Mandy (19 December 2022). "Stephen Flynn: 'There was an expectation I would have to be in a wheelchair'". Holyrood. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
8. Ewen, David (15 March 2013). "Aberdeen SNP group announces new leader". Evening Express. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
9. Hutcheon, Paul (19 November 2024). "Stephen Flynn claimed he could not double job as an SNP MP and councillor as backlash grows". Daily Record. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
10. "General Election 2019". Aberdeen City Council. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
11. "Aberdeen South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". Retrieved 15 December 2019.
12. "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
13. Campsie, Alison (12 December 2019). "General Election 2019: SNP steal Ross Thomson's old Aberdeen South seat from Tories". The Scotsman. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
14. "Stephen Flynn". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
15. "Aberdeen South - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
16. "General Election 2024: Aberdeen results". Aberdeen City Council. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
17. "Ian Blackford to stand down as SNP leader at Westminster". BBC News. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
18. Sim, Philip (6 December 2022). "Stephen Flynn elected as new SNP leader at Westminster". BBC News. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
19. "Blackford denies being pushed out by SNP MPs". BBC News. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
20. "Ian Blackford: Why has SNP Westminster chief stepped down?". BBC News. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
21. "Privy Council appointment: March 2024" (PDF). GOV.UK. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
22. "Gaza ceasefire vote: SNP MPs walk out in protest at Speaker". The Herald. 21 February 2024.
23. Flynn, Stephen (23 February 2024). "Starmer used every trick in the book to stop MPs voting on SNP ceasefire motion". Daily Record. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
24. "Hansard. Ceasefire in Gaza debate". 21 February 2024.
25. Meighan, Craig (4 July 2024). "SNP suffers huge losses as Labour sweeps to power across UK". STV News. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
26. "New SNP frontbench roles confirmed after loss of seats at General Election". The National. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
27. "Labour suspends seven rebel MPs over two-child benefit cap". BBC News. 23 July 2024.
28. "Starmer sets up taskforce for 4m UK children in poverty". BBC News. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
29. "Flynn aims to stand for SNP at Holyrood election". BBC News. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
30. Mitchell, Jenness (12 November 2024). "SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn aims to become MSP at next Holyrood election". Sky News. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
31. "SNP MSP Audrey Nicoll speaks out on Stephen Flynn's bid to replace her". The National. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
32. "Scottish minister issues warning after media reports on SNP infighting". The National. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
33. "SNP yet to make decision on two-job MPs - Swinney". BBC News. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
34. "Flynn: Reaction to 2026 Holyrood bid 'not pleasant'". BBC News. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
35. "MSPs to vote on banning 'double jobbing' and ending Stephen Flynn bid to sit in two parliaments". Daily Record. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
36. "SNP 'united in fury' as Stephen Flynn bids to unseat colleague". The Times. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
37. "Swinney urged to back double-jobbing ban in rebuke to Stephen Flynn". The Times. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
38. Amery, Rachel (20 November 2024). "Scottish minister says double jobbing 'too difficult', backs ban as SNP's Stephen Flynn watches on". The Scotsman. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
39. "Flynn will not seek dual mandate to become MSP". BBC News. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
40. Merson, Adele (1 December 2022). "Who is Stephen Flynn? The Aberdeen MP who is now SNP Westminster leader". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
41. Clark, Alasdair (12 August 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Flynn's dad Mark to be new Dundee City Council leader". The Courier. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
42. Scott, Kevin (6 December 2022). "Stephen Flynn: Who is the SNP's new Westminster leader?". STV. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
43. Lewis Goodall (7 July 2023). "The News Agents: Zuckerberg v Musk: it's war" (Podcast). Global. Event occurs at 27:40. Retrieved 28 March 2024.

External links

• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
• Profile on SNP website

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Ross Thomson	Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South 2019–present	Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Ian Blackford	Leader of the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons 2022–present	Incumbent