Joanna Cherry accuses SNP of 'misogyny' over Stephen Flynn 'stitch up' claims

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Joanna Cherry has accused the SNP of deep “misogyny” over claims the Government is helping Westminster leader Stephen Flynn get to Holyrood.

The former MP contrasted the actions of SNP Ministers over Flynn with the party hierarchy obstructing her ambitions of switching parliaments.

Cherry, who was a critic of Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership, was keen on standing for Holyrood in 2021 but pulled out after obstacles were put in her way. The SNP introduced a rule that required sitting MPs to stand down if they wanted to get elected to Holyrood.

Multiple party sources said the anti-double jobbing rule was specifically designed to keep the Sturgeon sceptic out of the Edinburgh parliament.

However, as revealed by the Record, SNP Ministers stand accused of helping MP Flynn try to stand for Holyrood while keeping his Westminster seat.

MSPs were last week set to vote on plans to ban double jobbing at the next Holyrood election until SNP Minister Jamie Hepburn intervened.

He offered a consultation on the issue but said any changes would not be in place for 2026, timing that is helpful to Flynn.

Cherry wrote on X: "Anyone doubting the deep rooted problem of misogyny in the current SNP should contrast the assistance given to a man seen as having leadership ambitions with the obstacles thrown in the path of a woman suspected of having the same.”

The SNP has also been accused of double standards over claims the anti-Cherry internal rule may have expired.

Party sources said the curb on double jobbing applied to the 2021 election, not the poll in eighteen months, another a shift that helps Flynn.

Simpson said of the Government’s actions: “Stephen Flynn is perfectly entitled to try to get elected to Holyrood but being an MSP is a full-time job so if he is successful he should do the right thing and stand down from Westminster. Better still, we should legislate in this area before the next Holyrood elections. Anything less reeks of a stitch-up.”

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Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer said: “The SNP have some serious questions to answer. Killing a vote on MP-MSP double-jobbing just days beforehand only adds to the stink surrounding this decision.”

Flynn wants to be selected as the candidate in Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, an ambition that requires him to oust sitting MSP Audrey Nicoll.

One SNP MSP accused Flynn of trying to “trample” over Nicoll.

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