Ian Blackford has resigned after five years as Westminster leader of the SNP. In a statement he said the time was right for ‘fresh leadership’ and that he will not be standing for reelection at the group’s AGM next week. The announcement comes just a fortnight after the Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP survived an attempted coup. He is continuing as an MP.
Just weeks ago Blackford survived a challenge from the Aberdeen South MP, Stephen Flynn, who attempted to overthrow him. SNP backbenchers had grown unhappy with Blackford’s leadership after several scandals during his tenure.
Flynn had been on manoeuvres against Blackford for months. Making his move, he informed the party’s compliance officer Ian McCann he planned to challenge Blackford at the Westminster group’s AGM in December. The next step of the plan was for a gang of so-called men in grey kilts, led by culture spokesman Brendan O’Hara, to tell their leader he had to go before the meeting.
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