Two SNP MPs have formally quit Westminster for the Scottish Parliament, triggering by-elections in their former constituencies and delivering a fresh indictment of what they described as a “crisis-ridden” political system in London.
Stephen Flynn, the former SNP Westminster leader, and Stephen Gethins each requested their resignations from the House of Commons on Thursday, paving the way for the writ to be moved in Aberdeen South and Arbroath & Broughty Ferry respectively. Both men were elected to Holyrood in last week’s Scottish Parliament election.
Resignations trigger by-elections
Flynn, who had served as the SNP MP for Aberdeen South since 2019, will now take up the seat of Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine in the Scottish Parliament. Gethins, who held Arbroath & Broughty Ferry for the SNP since the 2024 general election, has been elected as the MSP for Dundee City East. Their departures leave two vacant seats at Westminster and set the stage for fresh contests that will test the strength of the parties in Scotland.
Westminster chaos cited as motivation
In a resignation statement, Flynn argued that the political turmoil in London had been a constant throughout his six and a half years as an MP. “When I entered Westminster it was during the chaos of Brexit and, as I depart, it is now consumed by the chaos of Starmer – the people and parties of power have changed, but the chaos has been constant,” he said. He contrasted that with what he called the “serious leadership” of First Minister John Swinney and the SNP, who he said had been “rewarded at the ballot box just last week”. The party secured a fifth term in the Scottish Parliament, albeit without an overall majority.
Flynn directly criticised the Labour government under Sir Keir Starmer, accusing it of attacking Scotland’s energy industry. “Our city has been rocked by the Labour Party’s attacks on industry and the cliff edge they have created for workers,” he said, vowing to “fight the corner of our oil and gas workers in Holyrood”. He also took aim at Reform UK, insisting the party must be rejected “who oppose billions of pounds in carbon storage and offshore wind investment”. Reform UK’s platform includes scrapping net-zero policies, ending renewable energy subsidies and fast‑tracking new North Sea oil and gas licences – a stance Flynn described as a threat to Scotland’s economic future.
Gethins, who won his Commons seat at the 2024 election, echoed the criticism of Westminster. He said the decision to call the by-elections in a “timely fashion” stood in “stark contrast to the crisis-ridden Westminster”. He added: “The experienced and strong leadership of John Swinney is a million miles away from the chaos we see again and again in broken, Brexit Britain – Holyrood is where Scotland’s future should be decided.” His remarks tap into a broader discontent with the Westminster model, which has been criticised for centralising power and failing to consult devolved administrations, as well as for the economic damage wrought by Brexit – including business investment that remains significantly lower than it would have been otherwise.
New roles at Holyrood
Both men now turn their attention to their new roles in the Scottish Parliament. Flynn, who stood down as the SNP’s Westminster leader to allow Dave Doogan to take his place, stressed that his work was “only getting started”. He committed to protecting “world class jobs” in the oil and gas sector while also creating “new world class renewables jobs at their side”. Gethins said he “very much” looked forward to representing the people of Dundee City East and serving in a parliament that “delivers for the people of Scotland”.
The by-elections are expected to be competitive. In Aberdeen South, early indications point to a contest between the SNP and the Conservatives, with Douglas Lumsden, a Conservative MSP, mentioned as a potential contender. Reform UK is also reportedly considering fielding a candidate. In Arbroath & Broughty Ferry, Gethins won the seat from Labour in 2024, defeating Cheryl-Ann Cruickshank; official candidates for the by-election have yet to be announced. The broader political landscape has shifted since the 2024 UK general election, when Labour made substantial gains across Scotland and the SNP lost 39 seats, though Swinney’s party recovered ground in the subsequent Holyrood vote.
“It is time to serve in a Parliament that delivers for the people of Scotland and back a First Minister and Government that puts the people of Scotland first,” Gethins said.
