The dust is settling after the SNP Westminster group’s deputy leader announced she would be standing down at the next election — but has Mhairi Black’s record in parliament been scrutinised quite enough? Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon says she is ‘gutted’ about Black’s departure, while FM Humza Yousaf called Black a ‘trailblazer’. But Mr S isn’t so sure they should be all that sad to see the back of her…
It appears the Westminster group’s deputy leader has more bark than bite. Of all the SNP’s 2015 intake who remain in parliament, Black has made the fewest spoken contributions — and by a rather large margin.
SNP MP Alison Thewliss has taken part in 1,197 debates, while Alan Brown has spoken in 1,148. Philippa Whitford has spoken 1,384 times and Carol Monaghan 1,008 across more than 600 debates each.
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