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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Andrew Quinn

SNP exodus continues as seventh MP announces they are standing down at next election

The SNP MP exodus continues as a seventh MP has announced that they are standing down at the general election.

Falkirk MP John McNally said on Twitter on Monday morning that he would not be seeking re-election.

The former barber said he had taken the decision "after some soul searching" and that it had been a "privilege" to represent the constituency.

The Daily Record understands there are still a few more SNP MPs who are to make public their intention to leave parliament.

Labour said the number of people standing down show the they "know the writing is on the wall".

He follows former Westminster leader Ian Blackford, ex-party deputy leader Stewart Hosie and current Westminster deputy leader Mhairi Black in announcing that he is standing down.

Former party treasurer Douglas Chapman, Glenrothes MP Peter Grant and Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley have also said they will not be seeking re-election.

McNally said his "time in politics is something I never imagined I'd experience, let alone for nearly a decade."

He said he will "continue to do whatever I can to campaign for Scottish Independence and to support the SNP."

McNally was one of the many SNP MPs elected in 2015 for the first time. He was elected with 34,831 votes, a majority of 19,701 over his nearest rival.

This was the largest vote received by any Scottish MP, and the largest majority received by any Scottish MP at the 2015 UK general election. It was also the highest number of votes polled for any SNP candidate in any election in the history of the party.

The 72-year-old currently has a majority of nearly 15,000 votes.

Labour shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “Every day that goes by another SNP MP seems to throw in the towel.

“SNP MPs know the writing is on the wall - the people of Scotland are increasingly tired of their out of date and out of touch politics.

“Labour has a credible opportunity to kick the Tories out of Downing Street and deliver a UK government that works for working people in Scotland.

“The people of Scotland hold the keys to a Labour government, and they are moving towards us more and more by the minute.”

Before becoming an MP, McNally had he had been a councillor on Falkirk council and had been a Westminster candidate in the 2010 election.

His announcement means that 10 of the 48 SNP MPs who were elected in 2019 will not stand for the party at the next election. Seven of them have announced they are standing down, while Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill defected to Alba in 2021.

Margaret Ferrier will also not stand for the SNP as she was suspended from the party for breaking Covid rules. She is currently facing a recall petition in her Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat.

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