No existential crisis for party, claims Flynn

THE SNP is split but it is not in an ‘existential crisis’, the party’s Westminster leader has claimed.

Stephen Flynn said Humza Yousaf is ‘best placed’ to heal the fractured party that has been gripped by infighting in the battle to replace Nicola Sturgeon.

Leadership debates have seen the candidates trade vicious barbs, personal attacks and brutal criticism about the record of the Scottish Government they have all served in.

Mr Flynn has admitted there is ‘quite clearly disagreement’ in his party, claiming it was ‘inevitable’. But in a plea for the SNP to rally

Deputy Scottish Political Editor behind the winning candidate, he said: ‘I don’t think there’s an existential crisis at all.’

Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Flynn said: ‘There’s quite clearly disagreement and discussion within the party.

‘But it’s incumbent upon a new leader once they are in place to bring everyone together. I think Humza is best placed to do that.

‘It’s quite clear that we have a disagreement within the party about what direction we should go. I think it’s healthy, for what it’s worth, to have a bit of disagreement but it’s about disagreeing without being disagreeable, and that’s an important point going forward.’

Despite being the bookies’ favourite for the top job and receiving endorsements from senior colleagues such as Mr Flynn and Deputy First Minister John Swinney, the latest polling has been dire for Mr Yousaf.

Less than a third of Scots (30 per cent) believe the SNP Government, with him as Health Secretary, is being run well – compared to 62 per cent who say it is being mishandled.

A YouGov poll published this week also revealed only 22 per cent believe Mr Yousaf

would make a good First Minister, less than rival Kate Forbes.

Yet Mr Flynn insisted his pick for leader is capable of being a unifying candidate if he does take control of the SNP.

Mr Flynn said: ‘I don’t think he seems divisive at all. On the contrary, he’s the candidate who’s spoken the most about bringing the party back together.’

While insisting that Mr Yousaf was the best candidate the SNP has to offer, the Aberdeen South MP admitted he wished the current

First Minister was not resigning. Asked if he would have preferred someone else who is not standing, Mr Flynn said: ‘I mean, if Nicola hadn’t chosen to stand down I probably would have been quite happy with that.’

With the SNP embroiled in a secrecy row about how many party members it has, Mr Flynn also confirmed the number would be revealed when the winner of the leadership contest was announced.

Pressed about the figure, he said: ‘I’m afraid I have got no idea.’