Cherry drops plan to run for Holyrood

SNP MP Joanna Cherry has said she will not be running for Holyrood in next year’s election “unless circumstances change”.

Ms Cherry had previously said she wanted to stand in the Edinburgh Central seat in next May’s Scottish Parliament election – with former SNP depute leader Angus Robertson also seeking the nomination.

But she has now said a “particularly unreasonable” demand from the party means it is “impossible” for her to do so.

It comes after suggestions that the SNP’s ruling National Executive Committee could bring in a new requirement for sitting MPs wishing to stand for Holyrood to secure at least £10,000 of funding towards the subsequent by-election campaign.

It is further reported that any MP who wants to stand for Holyrood will have to resign their seat before the Scottish election.

Ms Cherry said that would make it “impossible” for there to be a “fair and open contest” to select a candidate for the constituency.

She said she would not usually comment on

“leaks of internal party matters”, but added that “most fair-minded people will see the events of the last few days for what they are”.

With politicians such as Alex Salmond having previously served as both an MP and an MSP, Ms Cherry said: “It is unprecedented in our party’s history of dual mandates to demand that a parliamentarian make themselves and their constituency staff unemployed in order to be eligible to be a candidate.

“It is particularly unreasonable to demand this in the middle of a pandemic.

“I am not prepared to do it and so unless circumstances change, I won’t be seeking nomination for Holyrood in this election.”

Joanna Cherry MP.