Mhairi Black, the SNP’s deputy Westminster leader, will step down at the next general election, blaming the “toxic” Commons environment. Speaking to The News Agents podcast, Black, who became the youngest MP in 350 years when she was elected in the SNP landslide of 2015 at the age of 20, said Westminster was “one of the most unhealthy workplaces that you could ever be in”. Explaining her decision, the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South said: “Honestly, because I’m tired, is a big part of it. And the thing that makes me tired is Westminster. “I think it is one of the most unhealthy workplaces that you could ever be in. It’s a toxic environment. Just the entire design of the place and how it functions is just the opposite of everything that I find comfortable. “It’s definitely a poisonous place. Whether that’s because of what folk can get away with in it or the number of personal motivations and folk having ulterior motives for things, and it’s just not a nice place to be in.”
Black also cited the “unsociable” working hours required of MPs. “In the run-up to the next election, I’ve realised that will be almost 10 years that I’ll have been elected,” she said. “So, a third of my life I’ve spent in Westminster, which gives me the ick.” After she ousted shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander’s 16,614 majority with a 26.9% swing to the SNP while still a politics undergraduate, Black developed a reputation for blunt oratory in the Commons chamber.
Black, who grew up in Paisley, became actively involved in politics during the independence referendum campaign, joining the SNP after the no vote in September 2014. First minister Humza Yousaf described Black as a “trailblazer” who “inspired a generation” and said she would “undoubtedly continue to make an immense contribution to our cause”. Nicola Sturgeon said she hoped Black would stand for a seat at Holyrood in the future. Responding to the announcement on Twitter, the former first minister said: “Both gutted by and entirely understanding of this. Her reasons resonate. But what a loss of a unique talent, not just to the SNP but to politics generally. I only hope it’s temporary. The world needs more Mhairi Blacks in politics, not fewer. I hope we will see her in [Scottish parliament] future.” Black is the sixth SNP MP to announce they will not contest the next general election, including former Westminster leader Ian Blackford. Last month, one of Black’s colleagues, Angela Crawley announced she would likewise be stepping down at the next election, citing the difficulties of juggling Westminster and family responsibilities.
The SNP MP for Lanark and Hamilton East told constituents: “My decision to stand down at the next general election reflects the fact I cannot continue to give my full focus to my work while raising a young family.” A number of SNP MPs had expressed serious doubts about Sturgeon’s plan to run the next general election as a de facto referendum, after the supreme court ruled that Holyrood could not hold a second independence referendum without Westminster’s consent. At the end of June, her successor, Humza Yousaf, put forward an amended plan, stating that winning a majority of Scottish seats would be a mandate for the SNP to once again push the UK government for a referendum and begin preparations for independence at Holyrood.