Blackford forced to deny resignation plans as rumours swirl among SNP MPS

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has been forced to deny reports that he is set to quit as the party’s Westminster leader.

According to Politico, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber has clashed with colleagues in the Commons, and there are grumblings from others about his performance.

One insider quoted by the website also said Mr Blackford “can’t be f **** d” with the pressures and the travelling involved from his Highland constituency”.

However, the SNP veteran said the claims were “utter nonsense”.

Mr Blackford told BBC Scotland that it was “like silly season has arrived early. There’s nothing in it.

“I’m back here in my constituency going down to Fort William to see people. I’ll be getting on with that job and getting on with the job of leading the SNP at Westminster. It’s a big job to do.”

Asked what his relationship was like with his colleagues in Westminster, Mr Blackford said: “I have a good team, a strong team, we are getting on with the job.

“I’ll be doing that safe in the knowledge that I have a group that’s behind me and a government in Edinburgh that we work closely with. Let’s focus on the day job of holding the Government to account, dealing with the crisis in Ukraine and delivering the Scottish Government’s manifesto.”

Asked if MPS were restless about the lack of progress towards holding a fresh referendum on Scottish independence, Mr Blackford said: “I think everybody knows that the SNP stood in the Scottish elections last year with a commitment to delivering an independence referendum. That was given to the Parliament, given to the

Government by the people. That will be enacted on. That is something that we all take seriously.”

The article claimed senior MPS Alyn Smith and Stewart Mcdonald may be looking to take over.

Both men dismissed the story when approached by The Herald – Mr Mcdonald said Politico’s piece was “literally made up”.

SNP MPS mostly rallied around their leader yesterday. Former deputy Westminster leader Kirsty Blackman called the story a “total fabrication which has absolutely no relationship with reality”.

Current deputy leader Kirsten Oswald branded it “mince”.

One MP said the story had come from a “disgruntled staffer.”

However, former SNP MP Neale Hanvey said he believed the story was “Alyn Smith manoeuvring”. “None of this advances independence. Sad times,” the Alba MP added.

The SNP chief was criticised last month after he sparked a fierce row over who would meet the cost of state pensions after a Yes vote, suggesting it would be a legacy obligation for the UK.

He told ITV Border that Scots who had paid UK National Insurance had accumulated the right to a UK pension.

He was also criticised by independence supporters this week when he suggested Indyref2 be delayed because of war in Ukraine.