Blackford new SNP leader in Westminster

IAN Blackford MP has been named as the SNP’s new Westminster leader.

The member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber will succeed Angus Robertson, who lost his Moray seat in the snap general election.

Mr Blackford faced competition from rivals Joanna Cherry and Drew Hendry for the role after another contender, Tommy Sheppard, withdrew from the race.

He will be supported by Kirsty Blackman, MP for Aberdeen North, who was also elected as the new deputy group leader at a meeting of the SNP Westminster group.

Tim Farron has quit as leader of the Liberal Democrats, saying he cannot face continued questions over his Christian faith. Mr Farron, an evangelical Christian who was repeatedly questioned during the general election campaign as to whether he believed gay sex was a sin, said his religion had made him a “subject of suspicion”.

His shock announcement came just hours after the party’s openly gay home affairs spokesman Lord Paddick said he was standing down citing “concerns about the leader’s views on various issues”.

Theresa May is to hold talks with the Northern Ireland political parties amid warnings an expected deal with the Democratic Unionists to prop up her minority government will undermine the peace process.

The prime minister will meet separately with representatives of Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance Party — as well as the DUP — in Downing Street in an attempt to allay growing concerns. ANSWERS: 1. 14. 2. Herbert Henry Asquith. 3. Ayrton Senna. 4. Goldfinches. 5.Tom Hanks. 6. Mary Whitehouse. Link: OIL.