Ian Blackford chaired the SNP in the House of Commons from 2017 to 2022. Photo: Jessica Taylor/AFP via Getty Images
Ian Blackford, Former SNP leader in Westminster announced that he will step down as MP in next year's general election.
MP Ross, Skye and Lochaber said, that he «thought long and hard» about whether to continue until the election. upcoming SNP selection process.
He said he was «honored» to lead the party's Westminster Group between 2017 and 2022 and will continue to campaign for Scottish independence after leaving Parliament.
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>Stephen Flynn ousted Blackford as leader of the party last December in a coup against the will of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Mr Blackford has been an MP since 2015, when he succeeded the late Charles Kennedy in 
Ian Blackford was considered one of Nikola's key allies Sturgeon. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
The former investment banker became a British politician after Angus Robertson, his predecessor. as leader of the SNP in Westminster, he lost his seat to Douglas Ross of the Scottish Tories in the 2017 election.
During his tenure, Mr Blackford has faced four Conservative prime ministers in Questions from the Prime Minister «, but he had to face deep divisions on the SNP benches behind him.
Disgruntled SNP MPs ousted him last year amid deep dissatisfaction with some aspects of Ms Sturgeon's leadership and concern that he was too loyal to her to stand up to her.
He also angered some of his colleagues by urging them to give «absolute full support» to Patrick Grady, the SNP MP. who was suspended for sexual harassment.
Ms Sturgeon has appointed him as SNP's business representative and his report on Scotland's industrial future will soon be published.
Reflection Period
His decision to leave the House of Commons in the next election came amid opinion polls predicting that the SNP could lose more than 20 of the 48 seats they won in 2019. The Liberal Democrats are targeting Ross, Skye and Lochaber.
Mr Blackford told Sky News: «Since leaving the SNP leadership in Westminster, I have gone through a period of reflection on how I can best help the party and the cause independence, a cause I have advocated since I joined the SNP as a teenager in the 1970s.
“While I will not be running for Westminster Parliament in the next election, I look forward to playing my part in the ongoing campaign for Scottish Independence and supporting our First Minister and the SNP. as we move forward to the next election and beyond.»
Mr Flynn said: «I would like to formally thank Ian Blackford for the tremendous role he has played in making the SNP a formidable force in Scottish and British politics.» .
Salmond's former political strategist joins. Camp Yusaf
Mr Blackford announced his resignation just hours after Hamza Yousaf named former chief political strategist Alex Salmond as his chief political adviser.
The First Minister appointed Kevin Pringle as his spokesman and «strategic political adviser» in an attempt to change the results of the polls showing a sharp decline in support for the SNP amid a police investigation into the party.
The appointment represents a coup d'état. for Mr. Yusuf, as Mr. Pringle was extremely highly regarded when he held a similar position for Mr. Salmond between 2007 and 2012.
Announcing his surprise appointment in a newspaper column Courier, based in Dundee, Mr Pringle said: «Despite all the difficulties and controversy, it seems to me that the SNP still retains its hard-earned and relatively recent status as the natural party of government in Scotland.»
However, the Minister of Transport SNP announced his decision. resignation after bouts of ill-health since October last year.
Kevin Stewart said he felt unwell again last week and couldn't take the time he needed to both serve his constituents and stay at the ministerial post. .
Mr Stewart pledged to continue serving his constituents in Aberdeen Central «to the best of my ability» and told the First Minister that he would support the Scottish government to the best of his ability.
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