Ian Blackford denies rumour he is due to quit
Ian Blackford has denied rumours he is preparing to quit as the SNP’S Westminster leader.
The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber said the claims were “utter nonsense” and “total c**p”.
He said: ”I have got a job to do leading the group. I am fully focusedondoingsoandiintend to lead us through all the challenges we face and to stand by the First Minister ready for the campaign ahead.”
It comes amid reports of a row between Mr Blackford and senior MPS Alyn Smith and Stewart Mcdonald, the party’s foreign affairs and defence spokesmen, over concerns they were freelancing in their portfolios.
Mr Smith has rejected claims of a confrontation as “total garbage”.
Mrmcdonaldwroteontwitter: “All of this is literally made up by people with the luxury of too much time on their hands.”
Politico reported Mr Blackford “may be preparing to ditch his role as the SNP’S chief at Westminster”, but furious insiders said there was no truth to this.
Mr Blackford has been the SNP’S Westminster leader since 2017, after Angus Robertson, who is now an SNP minister in Holyrood, lost his seat as an MP. However, rumours about his future have grown in recent months.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently reiterated her desire to hold a second independence referendum before the end of 2023.
Theukgovernmentisunlikelytoagreetothis,pavingtheway for a constitutional clash that could end up in court.
Mr Blackford recently sparked controversy after insisting pension obligations in Scotland will be met by the UK Government should the country become independent.
Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray said the SNP are in “total disarray at Westminster”.
Hesaid:“ianblackford’sridiculous claims on pensions in an independent Scotland have
beenthoroughlydebunked,and now even his own MPS can see he was wrong.
“The SNP has refused to back Labour’s plan for a windfall tax on the enormous profits of oil companies, and it now seems
they are entering a civil war.
“At the next general election, Scots can choose MPS who can do so much more than just oppose the Tories.”