Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn

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Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn
Fourth Party of the House of Commons
2022–present
Prime Minister's Questions, 7 February 2024 05.jpg
Date formed10 December 2022
People and organisations
Group Leader Stephen Flynn
Member party
  •   SNP
Status in legislatureFourth party (from 2024)
9 / 650(1%)
Third party (2022–2024)
43 / 650(7%)
History
Outgoing election 2019 general election
2024 general election
Legislature terms 58th UK Parliament
59th UK Parliament
Predecessor Blackford Frontbench

The Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn is the team of Scottish National Party Spokespersons in the House of Commons since 2022. [1] The frontbench was first appointed on 10 December 2022. [2]

Contents

Flynn was elected leader of the SNP Westminster Group on 6 December 2022, alongside Mhairi Black as deputy leader, following the resignation of Ian Blackford. 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 the 2024 general election, the SNP suffered huge losses losing the vast majority of their seats. [3] As a result, Stephen Flynn unveiled a new much slimmed down frontbench including himself, Pete Wishart as his deputy and Kirsty Blackman as chief whip. [4]

Formation

Following Flynn's victory in the leadership election, Pete Wishart, Chris Law and Stewart McDonald resigned from the frontbench. [5]

Members

Frontbench 2022–2023

Portfolio [6] Spokesperson
Group Leader Official portrait of Stephen Flynn, 2022 (cropped).jpg Stephen Flynn MP
Deputy Leader Official portrait of Mhairi Black MP crop 2.jpg Mhairi Black MP
Chief Whip Official portrait of Martin Docherty-Hughes crop 2.jpg Martin Docherty-Hughes MP
Economy Official portrait of Stewart Hosie crop 2.jpg The Rt Hon Stewart Hosie MP
Social Justice Official portrait of David Linden MP crop 2.jpg David Linden MP
Home Affairs Official portrait of Alison Thewliss MP crop 2.jpg Alison Thewliss MP
Justice and Immigration Official portrait of Stuart C McDonald MP crop 2.jpg Stuart McDonald MP
Scotland Official portrait of Dr Philippa Whitford MP crop 2.jpg Philippa Whitford MP
Europe and EU Accession Official portrait of Alyn Smith MP crop 2.jpg Alyn Smith MP
Foreign Affairs Official portrait of Drew Hendry crop 2.jpg Drew Hendry MP
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Official portrait of Patricia Gibson MP crop 2.jpg Patricia Gibson MP
Women and Equalities Kirsten Oswald.jpg Kirsten Oswald MP
International Trade, Northern Ireland and Wales Official portrait of Richard Thomson MP crop 2.jpg Richard Thomson MP
Energy and Industrial Strategy Official portrait of Alan Brown MP crop 2.jpg Alan Brown MP
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Official portrait of John Nicolson MP, 2023.jpg John Nicolson MP
Defence Official portrait of Dave Doogan MP crop 2.jpg Dave Doogan MP
House of Commons Business Official portrait of Deidre Brock crop 2.jpg Deidre Brock MP
Levelling Up Official portrait of Chris Stephens MP crop 2.jpg Chris Stephens MP
Cabinet Office Official portrait of Kirsty Blackman crop 2.jpg Kirsty Blackman MP
Transport Official portrait of Gavin Newlands crop 2.jpg Gavin Newlands MP
Health Martyn Day MP - official photo 2017.jpg Martyn Day MP
International Development Official portrait of Brendan O'Hara crop 2.jpg Brendan O'Hara MP
Education Official portrait of Carol Monaghan crop 2.jpg Carol Monaghan MP

Frontbench 2023–2024

On 4 September 2023, Flynn reshuffled the frontbench. [7] [8] [9]

Portfolio [6] Spokesperson
Group Leader Official portrait of Stephen Flynn, 2022 (cropped).jpg The Rt Hon Stephen Flynn MP
Deputy Leader Official portrait of Mhairi Black MP crop 2.jpg Mhairi Black MP
Chief Whip Official portrait of Owen Thompson MP crop 2.jpg The Rt Hon Owen Thompson MP
House of Commons Business Deidre Brock.jpg Deidre Brock MP
Economy Official portrait of Drew Hendry crop 2.jpg Drew Hendry MP
Levelling Up Official portrait of Anum Qaisar MP.jpg Anum Qaisar MP
Social Justice Official portrait of David Linden MP crop 2.jpg David Linden MP
Home Affairs Official portrait of Alison Thewliss MP crop 2.jpg Alison Thewliss MP
Justice and Immigration Official portrait of Chris Stephens MP crop 2.jpg Chris Stephens MP
Attorney General Official portrait of Patricia Gibson MP crop 2.jpg Patricia Gibson MP
Europe and EU Accession Official portrait of Alyn Smith MP crop 2.jpg Alyn Smith MP
Science, Innovation, Technology and Education Official portrait of Carol Monaghan MP crop 2.jpg Carol Monaghan MP
Scotland Official portrait of Tommy Sheppard MP crop 2.jpg Tommy Sheppard MP
International Development Official portrait of Anne McLaughlin MP crop 2.jpg Anne McLaughlin MP
Foreign Affairs Official portrait of Brendan O'Hara MP crop 2.jpg Brendan O'Hara MP
Women and Equalities Kirsten Oswald.jpg Kirsten Oswald MP
Environment, Farming, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Official portrait of Steven Bonnar MP crop 2.jpg Steven Bonnar MP
Cabinet Office Official portrait of Kirsty Blackman crop 2.jpg Kirsty Blackman MP
Business and Trade, Northern Ireland and Wales Official portrait of Richard Thomson MP crop 2.jpg Richard Thomson MP
Health Official portrait of Amy Callaghan MP crop 2.jpg Amy Callaghan MP
Transport Official portrait of Gavin Newlands MP crop 2.jpg Gavin Newlands MP
Energy Security and Net Zero Official portrait of Dave Doogan MP crop 2.jpg Dave Doogan MP
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Official portrait of John Nicolson MP crop 2.jpg John Nicolson MP
Defence Official portrait of Martin Docherty-Hughes crop 2.jpg Martin Docherty-Hughes MP

Frontbench July 2024–Present

Following the 2024 general election, the frontbench was reshuffled. [4]

Portfolio [6] Spokesperson
Group Leader Official portrait of Stephen Flynn MP crop 2, 2024.jpg Stephen Flynn MP
Deputy Leader Official portrait of Pete Wishart crop 2.jpg Pete Wishart MP
Chief Whip Official portrait of Kirsty Blackman crop 2.jpg Kirsty Blackman MP

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Wishart</span> Scottish politician

Peter Wishart is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician and musician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Perth and Kinross-shire since 2024. He previously served as the MP for Perth and North Perthshire from 2005 to 2024 and North Tayside from 2001 to 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stewart Hosie</span> Scottish National Party politician

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Hendry</span> Scottish National Party politician

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Blackford</span> Scottish politician (born 1961)

Ian Blackford is a Scottish politician and investment banker who served as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the House of Commons from 2017 to 2022. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ross, Skye and Lochaber from 2015 to 2024.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirsty Blackman</span> Scottish politician (born 1986)

Kirsty Blackman is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Aberdeen North since 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alison Thewliss</span> Scottish politician

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brendan O'Hara</span> Scottish politician (born 1963)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart McDonald (Scottish politician)</span> Scottish politician and Member of Parliament

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martyn Day (politician)</span> Scottish SNP politician

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Flynn</span> Scottish politician (born 1988)

Stephen Mark Flynn is a Scottish politician who has served as the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the House of Commons since December 2022. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Aberdeen South since 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 SNP Westminster leadership election</span>

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Frontbench Team is a political term used in the Westminster system of government. It is used to describe the senior leadership of opposition parliamentarians in the British House of Commons and the Dáil Éireann.

References

  1. "SNP Westminster leader denies plotting to oust predecessor". BBC News. 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  2. "Stephen Flynn unveils new SNP Westminster frontbench after reshuffle". HeraldScotland. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  3. Meighan, Craig (2024-07-04). "SNP suffers huge losses as Labour sweeps to power across UK". STV News. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  4. 1 2 "New SNP frontbench roles confirmed after loss of seats at General Election". The National. 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  5. "Four SNP MPs in new roles in Westminster reshuffle". BBC News. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  6. 1 2 3 SNP, the (2022-12-10). "The real opposition: meet your new SNP Westminster Frontbench". Scottish National Party. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  7. "SNP announces frontbench reshuffle at Westminster". BBC News. 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
  8. "SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn reshuffles frontbench team". Sky News. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
  9. "Stephen Flynn announces major shake-up of SNP Westminster team". The National. 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-09-10.