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Stephen Flynn confirms bid to win seat at Holyrood

PA Media A bald man smiles while on a stage. He is standing side on to the camera and is visible from the shoulders up. He is wearing a dark suit and white shirt with a blue tie.PA Media
Stephen Flynn provoked anger from within his party when he announced plans to hold a dual mandate

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has confirmed he is aiming to stand for the party at next year's Scottish Parliament election.

The MP backed down from ambitions to hold a seat at both Westminster and Holyrood following a backlash from colleagues.

He now looks set to be nominated to stand for the SNP in Aberdeen South and North Kincardine.

Flynn said he was "delighted" but added the selection process was yet to finish.

It is understood there could be a selection contest if another candidate receives enough signatures to challenge him, though a party source told BBC Scotland News that was looking "unlikely".

Flynn intends to step down as an MP to take up a seat at Holyrood - though he has not yet confirmed whether he will resign ahead of the election. He may have to do so under new Holyrood rules banning dual mandates.

Selection row

The MP, who represents Aberdeen South in the House of Commons, announced in November that he intended to stand in next May's Scottish election.

He said if elected to Holyrood, he would aim to hold his Westminster seat until the next general election but would not accept two salaries.

Following criticism from party colleagues, Flynn conceded that he had made a mistake and said he would not seek a dual mandate.

However, he did not rule out a bid to win a Holyrood seat.

The Scottish Parliament has since voted to bar MSPs from sitting as MPs or members of the House of Lords.

The regulations, brought forward as part of the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill, could come into force as early as the autumn.

This would mean the rules would be in place in time for the 2026 election, though they may include a grace period or other exemptions.

Flynn said: "While the internal selection period is yet to conclude, I am of course delighted to have been nominated by SNP members across Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, many of whom I've campaigned alongside for close to 15 years."

He said it would be an "immense privilege" to be elected to the Scottish Parliament "and be part of the effort to maximise Aberdeen's potential, and secure Scotland's future as an independent, European nation".