Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn
2024 general election
59th UK Parliament
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]
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 United Kingdom 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
After 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 | ![]() | Stephen Flynn MP |
Deputy Leader | ![]() | Mhairi Black MP |
Chief Whip | ![]() | Martin Docherty-Hughes MP |
Economy | ![]() | The Rt Hon Stewart Hosie MP |
Social Justice | ![]() | David Linden MP |
Home Affairs | ![]() | Alison Thewliss MP |
Justice and Immigration | ![]() | Stuart McDonald MP |
Scotland | ![]() | Philippa Whitford MP |
Europe and EU Accession | ![]() | Alyn Smith MP |
Foreign Affairs | ![]() | Drew Hendry MP |
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | ![]() | Patricia Gibson MP |
Women and Equalities | ![]() | Kirsten Oswald MP |
International Trade, Northern Ireland and Wales | ![]() | Richard Thomson MP |
Energy and Industrial Strategy | ![]() | Alan Brown MP |
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | ![]() | John Nicolson MP |
Defence | ![]() | Dave Doogan MP |
House of Commons Business | ![]() | Deidre Brock MP |
Levelling Up | ![]() | Chris Stephens MP |
Cabinet Office | ![]() | Kirsty Blackman MP |
Transport | ![]() | Gavin Newlands MP |
Health | ![]() | Martyn Day MP |
International Development | ![]() | Brendan O'Hara MP |
Education | ![]() | Carol Monaghan MP |
Frontbench 2023–2024
On 4 September 2023, Flynn reshuffled the frontbench.[7][8][9]
Portfolio [6] | Spokesperson | |
---|---|---|
Group Leader | ![]() | The Rt Hon Stephen Flynn MP |
Deputy Leader | ![]() | Mhairi Black MP |
Chief Whip | ![]() | The Rt Hon Owen Thompson MP |
House of Commons Business | ![]() | Deidre Brock MP |
Economy | ![]() | Drew Hendry MP |
Levelling Up | ![]() | Anum Qaisar MP |
Social Justice | ![]() | David Linden MP |
Home Affairs | ![]() | Alison Thewliss MP |
Justice and Immigration | ![]() | Chris Stephens MP |
Attorney General | ![]() | Patricia Gibson MP |
Europe and EU Accession | ![]() | Alyn Smith MP |
Science, Innovation, Technology and Education | ![]() | Carol Monaghan MP |
Scotland | ![]() | Tommy Sheppard MP |
International Development | ![]() | Anne McLaughlin MP |
Foreign Affairs | ![]() | Brendan O'Hara MP |
Women and Equalities | ![]() | Kirsten Oswald MP |
Environment, Farming, Agriculture and Rural Affairs | ![]() | Steven Bonnar MP |
Cabinet Office | ![]() | Kirsty Blackman MP |
Business and Trade, Northern Ireland and Wales | ![]() | Richard Thomson MP |
Health | ![]() | Amy Callaghan MP |
Transport | ![]() | Gavin Newlands MP |
Energy Security and Net Zero | ![]() | Dave Doogan MP |
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | ![]() | John Nicolson MP |
Defence | ![]() | Martin Docherty-Hughes MP |
Frontbench July 2024–Present
Following the 2024 general election, the frontbench was reshuffled.[4]
Portfolio [6] | Spokesperson | |
---|---|---|
Group Leader | ![]() | Stephen Flynn MP |
Deputy Leader | ![]() | Pete Wishart MP |
Chief Whip | ![]() | Kirsty Blackman MP |
References
- ^ "SNP Westminster leader denies plotting to oust predecessor". BBC News. 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
- ^ "Stephen Flynn unveils new SNP Westminster frontbench after reshuffle". HeraldScotland. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
- ^ Meighan, Craig (2024-07-04). "SNP suffers huge losses as Labour sweeps to power across UK". STV News. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ a b "New SNP frontbench roles confirmed after loss of seats at General Election". The National. 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Four SNP MPs in new roles in Westminster reshuffle". BBC News. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
- ^ a b c SNP, the (2022-12-10). "The real opposition: meet your new SNP Westminster Frontbench". Scottish National Party. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
- ^ "SNP announces frontbench reshuffle at Westminster". BBC News. 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ "SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn reshuffles frontbench team". Sky News. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ "Stephen Flynn announces major shake-up of SNP Westminster team". The National. 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-09-10.