Stephen Flynn defeats Alison Thewliss – who is seen as being close to Nicola Sturgeon – in a vote of SNP MPs.
Stephen Flynn has been elected as the SNP’s new Westminster leader following the resignation of Ian Blackford.
The Aberdeen South MP defeated Alison Thewliss – who is seen as being closer to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – by 26 votes to 17 in a vote of the party’s MPs.
Mr Blackford announced last week that he was standing down amid rumours that Mr Flynn was plotting to replace him.
Mr Flynn will face Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
He has already said that he will appoint Mhairi Black as his deputy.
Mr Flynn had initially been expected to be the only candidate to replace Mr Blackford.
But Ms Thewliss unexpectedly threw her hat in the ring after sources close to Mr Flynn were quoted in the media as saying he intended to replace much of the party’s front bench team in the Commons.
There has also been speculation that he could return Joanna Cherry – an outspoken critic of Ms Sturgeon – to a prominent role.
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