Ian Blackford standing down as SNP Westminster leader
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford will not stand again for the position, he has announced.
In a statement released today, Mr Blackford said he told MP colleagues he would not continue in the role he has held for five years.
In the run up to the next general election, that the SNP plans to run as a de facto referendum, Mr Blackford said “right now is the time for fresh leadership”.
“During my time as leader, the SNP won a landslide victory in the 2019 general election, with an increased share of the vote and MPs, and support for independence has continued to grow with polling this week showing a majority in favour,” he said.
“While I am stepping down as Westminster leader, I will continue in my role as the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, and I have also accepted a new role at the centre of the SNP’s independence campaign, leading on business engagement.
“I would like to thank our MPs and staff for all their support over the past five years.
“Whoever replaces me as Westminster leader will have my full support as, together, we stand up for Scotland’s interests and democratic right to choose our future in an independence referendum.”
Responding to the resignation, Scottish Conservative Chairman Craig Hoy MSP said: “Ian Blackford has jumped before he was pushed. His resignation is a total humiliation for Nicola Sturgeon. She shamefully stood by her Westminster leader earlier this year despite his appalling handling of the complaints made against Patrick Grady.”
Shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray added: “The SNP is in total disarray – the nats are deserting the sinking ship.
“Nationalist MPs know Nicola Sturgeon’s plan for a de facto referendum is finished before it’s even started and are worried about Labour gaining seats.”
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Scottish Affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: “From his bitter campaign against Charles Kennedy to his mishandling of sexual harassment allegations against an SNP MP, it’s clear that Ian Blackford has never been fit to lead.
“He should have stepped aside a long time ago. It’s been clear that his SNP colleagues have been pushing him to go and the recent failed leadership challenge was just one indication of their dissatisfaction.”
We told how the First Minister’s bid to legislate for IndyRef2 on October 19 next year was blocked after the Supreme Court said it would go beyond Holyrood’s powers.
A special SNP conference will be held in the new year to determine how to take the referendum on independence forward.
The First Minister said a ‘de facto’ referendum is the most obvious choice for a lawful vote on independence.
She said: “Now that the Supreme Court’s ruling is known and de facto referendum is no longer hypothetical, it is necessary to agree the precise detail of the proposition we intend to put before the country.
“Given the magnitude of these decisions for the SNP, the process of reaching them is one the party as a whole must be fully and actively involved in.
“I can therefore confirm that I will be asking our National Executive Committee to convene a special party conference in the new year to discuss and agree the detail of a proposed ‘de facto referendum’.
“In the meantime, the SNP will launch and mobilise a major campaign in defence of Scottish democracy because we should be in no doubt that, as of today, democracy is what’s at stake.”
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