Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn

The Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn is the team of Scottish National Party Spokespersons in the House of Commons since 2022.^[1] The frontbench was first appointed on 10 December 2022.^[2]

Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn
Fourth Party of the House of Commons
2022–present
Date formed	10 December 2022
People and organisations
Group Leader	Stephen Flynn
Member party	SNP
Status in legislature	Opposition (from 2024) 9 / 650 (1%) Third Party (2022 - 2024) 43 / 650 (7%)
History
Outgoing election	2019 general election 2024 general election
Legislature terms	58th UK Parliament 59th UK Parliament
Predecessor	Blackford Frontbench

Flynn was elected leader of the SNP Westminster Group on 6 December 2022, alongside Mhairi Black as deputy leader, following the resignation of Ian Blackford. Flynn's leadership came at a time of a cost of living crisis and when the United Kingdom's Supreme Court set out that the Scottish Parliament does not have the devolved competence to hold an independence referendum without the consent of the British Government. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had set out plans for the next election to the House of Commons to be a proxy referendum on independence, putting the Frontbench Team at the centre of a constitutional campaign within Scotland.

In the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the SNP suffered huge losses losing the vast majority of their seats.^[3] As a result, Stephen Flynn unveiled a new much slimmed down frontbench including himself, Pete Wishart as his deputy and Kirsty Blackman as chief whip.^[4]

Formation

After Flynn's victory in the leadership election, Pete Wishart, Chris Law and Stewart McDonald resigned from the frontbench.^[5]

Members

Frontbench 2022–2023

Portfolio [6]	Spokesperson
Group Leader		Stephen Flynn MP
Deputy Leader		Mhairi Black MP
Chief Whip		Martin Docherty-Hughes MP
Economy		The Rt Hon Stewart Hosie MP
Social Justice		David Linden MP
Home Affairs		Alison Thewliss MP
Justice and Immigration		Stuart McDonald MP
Scotland		Philippa Whitford MP
Europe and EU Accession		Alyn Smith MP
Foreign Affairs		Drew Hendry MP
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs		Patricia Gibson MP
Women and Equalities		Kirsten Oswald MP
International Trade, Northern Ireland and Wales		Richard Thomson MP
Energy and Industrial Strategy		Alan Brown MP
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport		John Nicolson MP
Defence		Dave Doogan MP
House of Commons Business		Deidre Brock MP
Levelling Up		Chris Stephens MP
Cabinet Office		Kirsty Blackman MP
Transport		Gavin Newlands MP
Health		Martyn Day MP
International Development		Brendan O'Hara MP
Education		Carol Monaghan MP

Frontbench 2023–2024

On 4 September 2023, Flynn reshuffled the frontbench.^[7][8][9]

Portfolio [6]	Spokesperson
Group Leader		The Rt Hon Stephen Flynn MP
Deputy Leader		Mhairi Black MP
Chief Whip		The Rt Hon Owen Thompson MP
House of Commons Business		Deidre Brock MP
Economy		Drew Hendry MP
Levelling Up		Anum Qaisar MP
Social Justice		David Linden MP
Home Affairs		Alison Thewliss MP
Justice and Immigration		Chris Stephens MP
Attorney General		Patricia Gibson MP
Europe and EU Accession		Alyn Smith MP
Science, Innovation, Technology and Education		Carol Monaghan MP
Scotland		Tommy Sheppard MP
International Development		Anne McLaughlin MP
Foreign Affairs		Brendan O'Hara MP
Women and Equalities		Kirsten Oswald MP
Environment, Farming, Agriculture and Rural Affairs		Steven Bonnar MP
Cabinet Office		Kirsty Blackman MP
Business and Trade, Northern Ireland and Wales		Richard Thomson MP
Health		Amy Callaghan MP
Transport		Gavin Newlands MP
Energy Security and Net Zero		Dave Doogan MP
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport		John Nicolson MP
Defence		Martin Docherty-Hughes MP

Frontbench July 2024–Present

Following the 2024 general election, the frontbench was reshuffled.^[4]

Portfolio [6]	Spokesperson
Group Leader		Stephen Flynn MP
Deputy Leader		Pete Wishart MP
Chief Whip		Kirsty Blackman MP

References

1. "SNP Westminster leader denies plotting to oust predecessor". BBC News. 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
2. "Stephen Flynn unveils new SNP Westminster frontbench after reshuffle". HeraldScotland. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
3. Meighan, Craig (2024-07-04). "SNP suffers huge losses as Labour sweeps to power across UK". STV News. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
4. "New SNP frontbench roles confirmed after loss of seats at General Election". The National. 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
5. "Four SNP MPs in new roles in Westminster reshuffle". BBC News. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
6. SNP, the (2022-12-10). "The real opposition: meet your new SNP Westminster Frontbench". Scottish National Party. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
7. "SNP announces frontbench reshuffle at Westminster". BBC News. 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
8. "SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn reshuffles frontbench team". Sky News. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
9. "Stephen Flynn announces major shake-up of SNP Westminster team". The National. 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-09-10.