'Withdrawing SNP MPs from Westminster would be betray promise to Scottish people'

Writing in last week’s Sunday National, Keith Brown said the shambolic events in the House of Commons during a debate on Gaza raised questions about the ability of Scotland’s representatives to have their say in Westminster.

He called for the party to consider withdrawing MPs from Westminster in a move which has split opinion. 

Writing in The Scotsman, SNP MP for Glasgow South Stewart McDonald said: “His (Brown’s) comments last week – that the SNP should ‘re-examine its participation in the proceedings of the UK Parliament’ – were not only wrong and unhelpful but, if fulfilled, would be a total abdication of our party’s responsibility to Scotland.”

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McDonald further argued that the Speaker’s actions were not an argument for abstentionism but in fact the “exact opposite”.

"It was a crystal-clear example of how eager Westminster politicians are to disregard Scotland’s elected representatives and a reminder that only the SNP can provide an alternative to the cosy consensus so often cooked up between Labour and the Conservatives,” he said.

The MP continued: “The comments were so concerning because they were not impromptu, off-the-cuff remarks made in the politically charged heat of the moment.

“They were published in a national newspaper in a general election year. The attack adverts write themselves, and they did.”

Brown’s comments had come after a report suggested SNP MPs would “disengage” with Westminster following the row over the Gaza ceasefire debate.

However, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn denied the claim which was made by the BBC and wrote on Twitter/X: “Until we achieve our independence, we will never leave Scotland voiceless in Westminster.”

McDonald added that although he was “no fan of the Palace of Westminster,” but that he wanted to see Scotland become independent “on the back of a legitimate and lawful vote for independence”.

He continued to say Scottish independence enjoyed support because the SNP speak for “mainstream Scotland” and that until a route to independence is offered, “the people of Scotland want their voices heard in Westminster”.

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“Abstentionism is, to be polite, completely crackers,” he added and further said votes would “abandon us in their droves” if the party went through with the plan.

“To embrace that proposal would be a betrayal of our promise to the Scottish people, would impede our ability to shape Scotland’s future at such a crucial geopolitical moment, and would damage our leadership.”