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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Andrew Quinn

SNP MPs 'fleeing sinking ship' as former treasurer who questioned party finances stepping down

SNP MPs "are fleeing a sinking ship" after the party's former treasurer announced he would stand down at the next general election.

Douglas Chapman announced last night he will not be seeking re-election in Dunfermline and West Fife.

He is the fourth MP in a matter of weeks to announce they will be standing down at the general election.

The Record understands several other Nationalists at Westminster are also on the verge of announcing their departure.

Labour claimed SNP MPs were standing down because "they know that a Labour government across the UK is within grasp and the SNP will be left on the sidelines."

In a letter shared on social media, Chapman said it was not an "easy decision" and that it had been "the privilege of my life" to serve as an MP for eight years.

He resigned as SNP treasurer in 2021 after less than six months in the role.

The MP claimed at the time he "had not received the support or financial information required to carry out the fiduciary duties of National Treasurer."

Police Scotland later launched an investigation into party finances following complaints from members of the public.

It was reported last month that Chapman was facing an internal challenge to stand as an MP at the next general election.

He was one of the few MPs who stuck by leadership candidate Kate Forbes after she faced backlash for her conservative social views.

He said in the letter: ""This has not been an easy decision for me to reach.

"However, following discussions with my family and close political friends, I have decided not to seek a nomination to be an SNP candidate at the next Westminster election."

He added: "'I would also like to recognise the love and support of my immediate family. Without them, standing for parliament and then functioning successfully as an MP would have proved to be more than a difficult challenge."

He said his decision was "not about retirement", adding that he intends to "work hard... for the remainder of this parliament and continue to raise expectations and ambitions in our constituency".

Chapman has followed former Westminster leader Ian Blackford and fellow MPs Peter Grant and Angela Crawley in announcing he is standing down.

Labour Shadow Scotland Secretary Ian Murray suggested MPs were standing down because of the SNP's chances at the election.

He said: “The Nats are fleeing the sinking ship.

“There are a record number of SNP MPs standing down at the next election to date, because they know that a Labour government across the UK is within grasp and the SNP will be left on the sidelines.

“If SNP politicians believed Humza Yousaf that independence was inevitable, perhaps they wouldn’t be standing down in such numbers."

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