Stephen Flynn has been criticised by SNP colleagues after saying he would stay on at Westminster, even if elected to Holyrood.

Just three years ago, the party criticised Douglas Ross for doing the same thing, saying “the days of dual mandates should be consigned to history.”

One former SNP minister questioned how Mr Flynn would be able to spend half his time in London and still be “a good MSP.“

The deadline for applications to be considered for selection as an SNP candidate for the Holyrood 2026 election closed on Monday.

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Mr Flynn aims to oust colleague Audrey Nicoll as the candidate in the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine.

Writing in the Press and Journal, Mr Flynn it “didn’t fill him with any great delight” to go up against the sitting MSP.

He added: “I will not take a second parliamentary income. This is personal for me, it’s about Scotland’s future, and that is much more valuable than any salary on offer.

“Nevertheless, I’m not blind to the fact that I will have to box smarter and work even harder. Others have done it in the past, not least Alex Salmond and John Swinney, and I’m positive about the prospect of walking the path they previously trod.”

Ms Nicoll said she looked forward to the contest, but pointed out that "the highest number of women returned to Holyrood in the party's history."

In 2020, the party's rules were changed to make it harder for politicians to hold dual mandates.

It meant that an MP picked to stand for Holyrood would need to quit their Westminster seat, triggering a by-election and making their staff redundant.

At the time, it was widely seen as a ploy to stop Joanna Cherry heading to the Scottish Parliament.

One SNP source said the ruling NEC would have no problem allowing Mr Flynn to stand.

“While people like Joanna Cherry were to be kept as far away as possible, Stephen is seen as the saviour of the party.”

Taking to X, Ms Cherry, who lost her seat in July’s general election, was scathing.

“The SNP badly needs new blood at Holyrood,” she said. “The rule against dual mandates introduced by the NEC in 2021 was not ‘election specific’ it was person specific. It served its purpose and I predict it will be removed.”

“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,” she added.

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Former senior minister Alex Neil, also posting on X, said the party “changing these rules every five minutes to suit a specific faction within the party” was “totally unacceptable and opens the party up to charges of unfairness and cronyism”.

SNP MSP Emma Roddick, who also previously served in the Scottish Government, questioned Mr Flynn’s ability to commit to the job.

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 and being a good MSP. Key that rules apply to everyone equally; men and women.”

Back in March 2021, the SNP demanded Douglas Ross resign his Westminster seat after he announced a bid for Holyrood.

In a press release issued by party HQ, the SNP’s Richard Lochhead said it was “untenable” for the then Scottish Tory leader to do both.

“He can’t possibly be in both Holyrood and Westminster at the same time,” he said, adding “Douglas Ross needs to put his full focus into being either an MSP or an MP.”

Mr Lochhead continued: “The days of dual mandates should be consigned to history… Being an MSP is already a demanding full-time job - never mind being a party leader at the same time - and so is being an MP.”

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North East MSP Liam Kerr said: “The SNP’s rank hypocrisy knows no bounds. The SNP would be calling for Stephen Flynn to resign if he was in any other party.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “It’s the perfect example of a political party that thinks it's one standard for them, another standard for everybody else.”

Meanwhile, Mr Flynn’s former deputy, Mhairi Black, confirmed she would not be standing for Holyrood. Richard Thomson, the former MP for Gordon has confirmed he plans to contest a seat in 2026. 

Disgraced ex-health secretary Michael Matheson has also applied to stand again. 

Earlier this year, he was suspended from Parliament for 27 days and lost his salary for 54 days over his £11,000 iPad expenses scandal.

At first, he claimed the bill was the result of parliamentary work while on a family holiday in Morrocco and a misunderstanding with a new sim card.

He then told MSPs in an emotional statement on November 16 that he had discovered his sons had been watching football during the family trip.

He said he had been told by his wife on November 9 that the teenagers had used his parliamentary device as a wifi hotspot.

However, on November 13, when asked directly if there was "any personal use" of the device during the family holiday, he told reporters: "No”

It also emerged that he met with parliamentary authorities, including Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone during the period and did not tell them his boys were responsible for racking up the charges.