Stephen Flynn (Scottish politician)

Stephen Mark Flynn (born 13 October 1988) is a Scottish politician who has served as the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the House of Commons since December 2022. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Aberdeen South since the 2019 general election.

In December 2022, Flynn announced his intention to run in the election to succeed Ian Blackford as the SNP Westminster leader. He defeated Alison Thewliss to become leader.

Early life and education
Stephen Flynn was born on 13 October 1988 in Dundee, and went to school in Brechin and Dundee. He studied at the University of Dundee, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons) in history and politics, and a Master of Letters (MLitt) degree in international politics and security studies.

Political career
Flynn previously worked as an assistant to Callum McCaig and in the office of Maureen Watt in Aberdeen.

Flynn was first elected to Aberdeen City Council for the Kincorth/Nigg/Cove Ward in 2015 and served as leader of the SNP group on Aberdeen City Council from 2016 till his election to Parliament in 2019.

Flynn was elected to Parliament as MP for Aberdeen South at the 2019 general election with 45% of the vote and a majority of 3,990 votes. Following his election, Flynn was appointed to the role of Shadow SNP Deputy Spokesperson (Treasury - Financial Secretary). He was promoted to the front bench in February 2021 as Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy).

SNP Westminster leader
Following the decision of Ian Blackford to stand down as the SNP Westminster Group Leader, Flynn announced his candidacy for the role, defeating Alison Thewliss 26–17 in a vote of Scottish National Party MPs.

In February 2024, Flynn was highly critical of the role of the speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle during a parliamentary debate on a Gaza ceasefire motion. Flynn stated that "he and his party has been treated with utter contempt and would need "significant convincing" that the Speaker's position was "not now intolerable".

The SNP motion was criticised by, amongst others, Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy MP, who stated that "The SNP motion appears one sided. For any ceasefire to work, it must, by necessity, be observed by both sides, or it is not a ceasefire...Israelis have the right to the assurance that the horror of 7 October cannot happen again."

His appointment to His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council was announced on 28 March 2024 as part of the 2024 Special Honours, thereby granting him the title The Right Honourable for life.

In July 2024, Flynn was re-elected as MP for Aberdeen South for the 2024 general election.

Personal life
Flynn is married to Lynn Flynn with two children.

Flynn has suffered from a serious condition called avascular necrosis since his teens and underwent a hip replacement for it in 2020. In 2023, he told The News Agents "I was disabled" before the operation, and had walked with a crutch for eighteen years, which led to him reading more as a child.