STEPHEN Flynn has said he will no longer pursue a dual mandate, saying he had "got this one wrong".
The SNP Westminster leader caused division within the SNP after he announced his intention to stand for Holyrood in the 2026 elections without resigning his seat as an MP.
Further anger was caused as Flynn had said he felt the rules put in place by the NEC were "election specific" and added that it did not fill him "with any great delight" to go up against sitting SNP MSP Audrey Nicoll for selection of the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat.
Nicoll, who represents Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, wouldn’t reveal whether there had been an underlying tone from Flynn for her to stand aside when they had talked prior to his announcement as reported, but she said she – and her team – were ready for a contest if one was to come.
In a statement on Thursday evening, Flynn said he would no longer pursue the dual mandate and said he "looked forward to assessing the new candidate selection rules" that the party sets.
It is understood Flynn does intend to stand to become an MSP. in 2026.
He said: "Hands up, I've got this one wrong and won't be pursuing a dual mandate.
"My aim to save the public purse from unnecessary strain by potentially overlapping the role of an MP and an MSP for a short period until the next General Election was genuine in its intent - but doing it for the right reasons doesn't change the fact that I got it wrong.
"My motivation and central belief remains that Holyrood, as the heart of Scottish democracy, is the democratic platform that will drive the route to an independent Scotland. All of us in the independence movement share that common cause and want to be part of that story.
"Alongside all SNP members, I now look forward to assessing the new candidate selection rules that my party will put in place."
A wider discussion around “double-jobbing” was sparked as two other MPs, Dave Doogan and Stephen Gethins, saying they had also submitted nomination papers for 2026.
In the 2021 Holyrood elections, the SNP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) blocked MPs from standing unless they first resigned their Westminster seats. However, that rule has since been described as “election specific” and there is uncertainty around whether the NEC will re-impose it for 2026.
Several figures with the SNP and current Government ministers have weighed in on the debate with Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee telling BBC Radio Scotland that he did not believe that it was possible to give both parliaments “due attention”.
Flynn had defended his position for more than a week, telling The Sunday Show he would not step down from Westminster in order to save the taxpayer money, and declined to rule out a bid for the SNP leadership.
He said: “I'm looking to save the public a significant amount of money, the public in Aberdeen, by not having a by-election. I think that would be welcomed by them in these tough financial times.
“I'm looking to save the party a significant amount of money as well.”
And asked if he is “on manoeuvres” with an eye on the SNP leadership, Flynn suggested he was – but that it was a question for the future.
“I'm ambitious,” he said. “I'm seriously ambitious for Aberdeen and for Scotland.”
