Stephen Flynn elected as SNP Westminster leader

Stephen Flynn has been elected at the SNP’s new leader at Westminster, beating off competition from Alison Thewliss.

SNP MPs voted in the internal election at the parliamentary group’s AGM on Tuesday evening.

Mhairi Black will be the new deputy leader.

Former leader Ian Blackford stepped down from the role, having served as leader since Angus Robertson was ousted in the 2017 general election.

Kirsteen Oswald also announced last week she would stand down as deputy.

Flynn’s first test will be at Prime Minister’s Questions at midday on Wednesday.

It is likely he will lead the group into the next general election, which SNP leader and First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has said will be approached as a de facto referendum on Scottish independence.

Speaking after the meeting, Flynn said: "Under my leadership, SNP MPs will be relentlessly focused on standing up for Scotland's interests and our democratic right to decide our future in an independence referendum."

He secured 26 votes from his colleagues, compared to 17 for Thewliss.

Black said: "I'm delighted to have been elected as SNP Westminster deputy leader and look forward to working closely with Stephen Flynn and MP's across the parliamentary party as we stand up for Scotland and make the case for independence."

Sturgeon has tweeted her congraulations, saying the pair make a "truly formidable team". "Looking forward to working with them both," she added.