Dave Doogan has been elected as the new leader of the SNP at Westminster, succeeding Stephen Flynn, who has stepped down after winning a seat in the Scottish Parliament. The Angus and Perthshire MP was unanimously chosen by his fellow MPs to lead the party's group in the House of Commons.
Leadership transition
Mr Flynn, who had led the SNP since 2022, resigned after being elected to the Holyrood constituency of Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine. His departure from Westminster will trigger a by-election in his Aberdeen South seat.
First Minister John Swinney congratulated Mr Doogan on social media, stating: "I look forward to working as closely on Westminster issues as we work together on constituency issues."
Mr Flynn also offered his congratulations, saying: "While it might not be the resignation everyone in Westminster was waiting for, I have left my role as the SNP leader at Westminster before I soon depart full-time to Scotland's national parliament. I want to congratulate Dave Doogan on his unanimous election. At a time when the Labour Government is plunging the UK into yet another crisis, while families suffer from the soaring cost of living, it has never been more important to have strong SNP voices standing up for Scotland and our future as an independent country."
Doogan's vision
Mr Doogan expressed his delight at being elected at what he described as a "crucial time for Scotland's future and our journey to independence." He emphasised that he would be "laser-focused" on issues such as the cost of living and securing independence from Westminster control.
Reflecting on his seven years in Parliament, Mr Doogan noted that the UK had "lurched from one crisis to another," citing Brexit, the cost-of-living crisis, and high energy bills. He added: "Every day, families in Scotland are paying the price for Westminster failure. I will do everything I can to hold the UK Government to account and secure that fresh start of independence, so Scotland can use our huge energy wealth to lower bills and invest in our communities."
Background
Mr Doogan, 53, was first elected to the House of Commons in 2019 and currently represents the Angus and Perthshire constituency. Prior to his parliamentary career, he served as leader of the SNP group on Perth and Kinross Council and worked as an aircraft engineer for the Ministry of Defence, specialising in Sea King search and rescue helicopters.
He thanked Mr Flynn for his "friendship and support over the years" and expressed confidence that Mr Flynn would "do an excellent job in the Scottish Parliament."
