The SNP can change ‘double jobbing’ rules to allow Stephen Flynn to be both an MP and an MSP if it wishes, John Swinney has said.

The First Minister, and SNP leader was quizzed by journalists in Holyrood following a row of Mr Flynn’s decision to stand as a candidate in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Mr Flynn will need to compete against current SNP MSP Audrey Nicoll for the candidacy of the  Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat.

His ambition to become an MSP has faced criticism from within the party after he said he would continue to keep his current job as the MP for Aberdeen South until the next general election.

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.

But Mr Swinney, who once double jobbed in both Westminster and Holyrood, told journalists: “The party has got an existing position about dual mandates. The party is obviously a democratic organisation. It can changes its views if it wishes to do to so.

“I promised that I would preside over engaged and open debate within my party and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Mr Swinney was elected as an MP for the Tayside North constituency at the 1997 general election and in 1999 he was selected for the same area in the Scottish Parliament.

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He held both jobs until the 2001 general election, where he stood down as an MP to avoid splitting his time between the two parliaments.

 Former SNP leader and first minister Alex Salmond held a dual mandate from 1999 until 2001 and then from 2007 to 2010.

It is understood the SNP has said the rule against double-jobbing was 'election specific'.

The rule saw Neil Gray, now health secretary, resign as an MP in 2021.

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

Stephen Gethins and Dave Doogan have also joined their colleague hoping to make the move north of the Border.

John SwinneyJohn Swinney

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said Mr Flynn, who leads the SNP at Westminster, would be a "brilliant asset" to the Scottish Parliament.

Stephen Flynn would make a brilliant asset to Holyrood and to the Scottish Parliament.

She told the PA news agency: “He’s exactly the kind of person that we need representing local communities in the Scottish Parliament.

“Now, I won’t get involved in local contests because Audrey Nicoll I know to have been a brilliant convener of the justice committee and a brilliant local advocate as well.

“But the point is that we have democratic processes here, internally within the party, which I’m not involved in, and also externally and, ultimately, for the electorate to decide, as they decided most recently in Douglas Ross’s case.”

Mr Flynn – who said he would not accept two salaries if elected – had previously criticised former Scottish Tory leader Mr Ross for taking up positions at Holyrood and Westminster at the same time.

Ms Forbes is also among the many SNP politicians who have attacked Mr Ross for having had multiple jobs, including as a football referee.

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The Deputy First Minister wrote on social media last year: “Douglas ‘three jobs’ Ross hardly spends any time in Scot Parl or speaking to his own party colleagues.

“Which is only one of the many, many reasons why I’ve never said more than a passing hello to him since he was elected. Conference hyperbole compensating for a failed Tory Gov.”

But Mr Flynn's decision has led to some backlash among those in his own party.

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.”

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”.