SNP “Tuesday Club” plotters who paved the way for the party’s new Westminster leader have been given top jobs in his new front bench.
But Stephen Flynn has been blasted by colleagues for handing just eight of the 23 jobs to women. Fellow MPs have accused him of cronyism and trying to create a “lad culture”, while others questioned why Anum Qaisar, the party’s only MP of minority background, was sacked.
Instead Richard Thompson MP has been handed three jobs – trade, Northern Ireland and Wales.
One SNP MP told the Sunday Mail: “The decision to sack Qaisar is curious particularly as Flynn has given the new trade spokesperson three roles but overlooked her entirely.”
David Linden returns to the front bench with social justice, Drew Hendry has been handed foreign affairs while Gavin Newlands and Alan Brown retained their positions as transport and energy spokesmen. Brendan O’Hara, another Tuesday Club member, has been given international development. Alison Thewliss, who challenged Flynn for the leadership, has been demoted from treasury to home affairs.
Another angry SNP MP told the Sunday Mail the new grouping was “too male-heavy” while a third accused Flynn of creating a “laddish culture in the group”.
An SNP spokeswoman said: "Senior roles including Depute Westminster Leader, Home Affairs spokesperson, Cabinet Office spokesperson, and Education spokesperson are all held by women.
“The front bench is proportionately representative of the SNP Westminster group."
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