Former MP Joanna Cherry has said that the SNP rules which prevented her from standing for a seat at Holyrood would not block Stephen Flynn from doing the same.
The ousted politician, who lost her seat at the last general election, said that the rules against ‘dual-mandates' were “person specific” and did not apply to every election.
However, another SNP has called for Mr Flynn to have a “rethink” over his plan to stand for Holyrood in 2016.
Ahead of the 2021 Holyrood elections, the SNP changed its internal rules to require MPs to resign their seat at Westminster to fight for selection to Holyrood.
This led to Ms Cherry pulling out of the selection contest for the Edinburgh Central seat, saying the rule change “hobbled” her in her Holyrood selection bid.
It has long been rumored that the change was brought in to block her specifically due to her criticism of Nicola Sturgeon and the party leadership, though the SNP have denied this.
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 & I predict it will be removed.”
However, she warned the party against taking voters for granted with back-room political manoeuvers, saying: “One of the lessons that the SNP should learn from the rout suffered at the general election is not to assume that peoples’ heads zip up the back.”
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 & I predict it will be removed. https://t.co/MxXbfhYqFF
— Joanna Cherry KC (@joannaccherry) November 12, 2024
Ms Cherry also retweeted a comment from party grandee and former cabinet minister Alex Neil, who said: “Changing these rules every five minutes to suit a specific faction within the party is totally unacceptable and opens the party up to charges of unfairness and cronyism. Little wonder so many people have lost trust in the SNP.”
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Emma Roddick, SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands, was also critical of Mr Flynn’s announcement.
She said: “Party members set this rule for good reasons. Rightly, Douglas Ross was criticised for holding two roles simultaneously.
“I hope Stephen Flynn rethinks. Can't imagine spending half my time in London & being a good MSP. Key that rules apply to everyone equally; men and women.”
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