The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Two more MPS rule out bid for SNP depute leader role
Contest: Joanna Cherry and Tommy Sheppard have decided not to stand
Two more high-profile SNP MPS have ruled themselves out of the contest to be the party’s new depute leader.
Joanna Cherry QC and Tommy Sheppard, who lost out to Angus Robertson in a 2016 depute election, have both decided not to stand.
Ms Cherry, the SNP home affairs spokeswoman, believes she can “best further the cause of independence in my current role”.
While Mr Sheppard said he is “much more at ease as a protagonist than a referee”.
The party is looking for a new depute leader after former MP Angus Robertson quit the role eight months after losing his seat in the 2017 general election.
MPS Pete Wishart and Ian Blackford have already ruled themselves out.
Ms Cherry said she had received support to stand, but has decided against it.
She tweeted: “Huge thanks to all across the indy movement who’ve asked me to stand for @thesnp depute leader.
“After long & careful consideration I’ve decided that, for now, I can best further the cause of independence in my current role.”
Writing in the Sunday Herald, Mr Sheppard said the depute role is more about how policy is made rather than its content.
He said: “I want to be to free to contribute and lead debates about the policy we should advocate and that’s harder if you’re running the policy-making machinery.
“And I think we’ve had some success here. On fracking, the National Investment Bank, and other policy areas we’ve seen grassroots policy working its way through branches and conference to end up as party and government policy.
“I intend to continue to work with others to similarly shape our future policy agenda.”
Glasgow MSP James Dornan was the first to announce he was seeking the post, with Julie Hepburn announcing her bid last month.
Ms Hepburn is not in elected office, but she is well known within the party and has worked for senior politicians.
Mr Wishart, chairman of the Scottish Affairs Committee, said after taking soundings from colleagues he did not believe he had “sufficient support” to stand and Mr Blackford said he wanted to concentrate on his constituency and his role as SNP Westminster leader.