Stephen Flynn | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2022 | |
| Leader of the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons | |
| Assumed office 6 December 2022 | |
| Deputy | Mhairi Black |
| SNP Party Leader | Nicola Sturgeon Humza Yousaf |
| 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 | |
| Assumed office 12 December 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Ross Thomson |
| Majority | 3,990 (8.7%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Stephen Mark Flynn 13 October 1988 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. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Aberdeen South since the 2019 general election.[3]
In December 2022, Flynn announced his intention to run in the election to succeed Ian Blackford as the SNP Westminster leader.[4] He defeated Alison Thewliss to become leader.[5]
Flynn was born in Dundee, and was schooled in both Brechin and Dundee. He studied at the University of Dundee, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons) in the study of history and politics, and an Master of Letters (MLitt) degree in the study of international politics and security studies.[6]
Flynn has worked as an assistant to Callum McCaig MP and in the office of Maureen Watt MSP in Aberdeen.[7][8]
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.[9]
Flynn was elected as MP for Aberdeen South at the 2019 United Kingdom general election with 45% share of the vote.[10] Following his election, Flynn was appointed to the role of Shadow SNP Deputy Spokesperson (Treasury - Financial Secretary).[11] Flynn was promoted to the front bench in February 2021 as Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy).[11]
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See also: Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn |
Following Ian Blackford's announcement to stand down as the SNP Westminster Group Leader, Flynn succeeded him as leader following an election by fellow Scottish National Party MPs returning a 26-17 majority over the other candidate Alison Thewliss.[12][13][14][15]
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.[16] Flynn stated that "he and his party has been treated with utter contempt and his party had been treated with "utter contempt" and would need "significant convincing" that the Speaker's position was "not now intolerable".
The SNP motion was criticised by Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy MP, 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."[17]
Flynn is married with two children.[18] Flynn has suffered from a serious condition called avascular necrosis since his teens and underwent surgery for it in 2020.[19]