The Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has officially announced his bid to move to Holyrood, joining a host of former SNP MPs who are aiming for a return to frontline politics in next May’s Scottish Parliament election.
Mr Flynn, who currently represents Aberdeen South in the House of Commons, has been selected as the SNP candidate for the newly reconfigured Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine constituency. He will be looking to succeed Audrey Nicoll MSP, who is stepping down after serving in Holyrood since 2021.
Flynn’s candidacy comes amid a significant reshuffling within the SNP ranks, as over 20 sitting MSPs – including senior figures such as Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf, and Finance Secretary Shona Robison – have confirmed they will not be seeking re-election. The departure of such prominent names has opened the door to a new generation of SNP hopefuls, many of whom previously served as MPs before losing their seats in the 2024 general election.
Among those joining Flynn in the Holyrood race is Alison Thewliss, who served as the SNP’s spokesperson on both Treasury and Home Affairs matters in Westminster. Thewliss lost her Glasgow Central seat to Labour in the last election but is now standing for the newly established Glasgow Central seat in the Scottish Parliament, created following a boundary review.
Alyn Smith, who had a long tenure as an MEP before becoming the MP for Stirling and the SNP’s Europe spokesperson, is also seeking election as MSP for Stirling. Kirsten Oswald, a former deputy leader of the SNP at Westminster, is running for Eastwood, while Patricia Gibson is standing in Cunninghame South.
Martyn Day is hoping to secure the Falkirk East and Linlithgow seat, and David Linden is aiming to represent the Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston constituency.
The SNP’s campaign chief Angus Robertson praised the calibre of the party’s new cohort of candidates, saying: “I am delighted the Scottish National Party has selected a group of brilliant, talented and diverse candidates to take forward our positive vision for Scotland’s future at next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.”
More Read
He continued, “Under John Swinney’s leadership, the SNP will be offering the people of Scotland the opportunity to vote for a party laser-focused on creating a vibrant economy, tackling the challenges faced by our public services, and delivering a better future for all.”
Mr Robertson added that voters could trust the SNP to remain firmly “on Scotland’s side”, especially as the party continues to push for Scottish independence and greater devolved powers.
However, opposition parties have been quick to dismiss the significance of the SNP’s candidate list. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie was scathing in her response, stating: “The SNP can unveil some different faces after scores of their MSPs deserted John Swinney, but the truth is that all they’re offering is more of the same.”
She went on to add: “Some of their candidates aren’t even that different – with several set to be former MPs who were rejected by Scots less than a year ago.”
The next Scottish Parliament election is scheduled for May 7, 2026, and it is already shaping up to be a decisive contest for the SNP as it attempts to hold on to power after nearly two decades in office. With a fresh team of candidates – many bringing experience from Westminster – the party will be hoping to re-energise its base and reclaim momentum following a turbulent period of resignations and electoral setbacks.
