Ian Blackford: Former SNP Westminster chief standing down at subsequent election

Ian Blackford, the previous chief of the SNP in Westminster, has informed Sky News he shall be standing down on the subsequent election.

Mr Blackford was changed as chief of the independence-backing get together’s Commons delegation at the end of last year by Stephen Flynn.

The outgoing MP mentioned he had been pondering “long and hard” about whether or not he would stand once more, and having determined to not remains to be trying “forward to playing my part in the continuing campaign for Scottish Independence and supporting our first minister and the SNP as we go forward to the next election and beyond”.

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During his 5 and a half years main the SNP in London, he was a agency ally of Nicola Sturgeon, and had been provided the job of enterprise ambassador for the get together after dropping his place of energy.

Despite the turmoil of Ms Sturgeon’s departure and the subsequent issues within the SNP, Mr Blackford mentioned it will nonetheless go forward.

He added that he has been engaged on a report “mapping Scotland’s industrial future” which shall be launched within the coming weeks.

Mr Blackford, 62, was first elected to the House of Commons for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency in 2015, successful the seat from the late Charles Kennedy.

The seat is now being break up up as a part of the adjustments to constituency boundaries forward of the anticipated 2024 common election.

Before getting into politics, Mr Blackford labored within the banking sector and at present lives on a croft – or small farm – in his constituency.

During his time as Westminster chief of the SNP, he grew to become identified for his lengthy questions at Prime Minister’s Questions, which typically drew heckles from MPs across the chamber.

He has been ejected from the House on a number of events, as soon as due to his frustration on the manner Brexit votes had been being performed, and likewise as a result of he acknowledged that Boris Johnson had misled the Commons over partygate.

Mr Blackford faced criticism for the way in which he reacted to one among his MPs sexually harassing a employees member.

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Leaked recordings confirmed he inspired SNP MPs to help Patrick Grady following the allegations.

Current SNP Westminster chief Mr Flynn mentioned: “I know Ian will be sorely missed by his constituents and colleagues when he stands down as an MP but I am confident that he will have a key role in continuing the campaign for Scotland to become an independent country.”