Aberdeen South MP Stephen Flynn is the SNP's new Westminster leader.

He yesterday won a vote among the party's MPs by 26 to 17.

Mr Flynn defeated Alison Thewliss - a close confidante of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Ms Thewliss had said she had "no interest" in the Westminster group having more independence from Ms Sturgeon's government in Scotland.

In contrast, Mr Flynn is expected to demand she gives the Westminster group far more say over SNP policy and strategy.

The outcome of the vote is the latest blow to Ms Sturgeon, who last week saw Mr Flynn oust Ian Blackford as Westminster leader against her wishes.

Drop opposition

The Telegraph says the Aberdeen South MP wants the first minister to drop her opposition to new North Sea oil and gas fields, while many of his supporters are deeply unhappy at her plan to try and use the next general election as a "de facto" independence referendum.

Although his supporters said Mr Flynn was keen to build a close working relationship with Ms Sturgeon, they admitted the pair had had few dealings in the past.

The 34-year-old was only elected an MP in the 2019 general election, having previously led the SNP group on Aberdeen City Council.

But he will quickly find himself in the UK political spotlight.

Mr Flynn will today have the responsibility for directing questions at Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister's Questions.

Reacting to his victory, he said: "It's an honour to be elected to lead the SNP's strong and talented team of MPs during such a crucial period for Scotland."

Stepped in

Ms Sturgeon stepped in to save Mr Blackford from an abortive coup three weeks ago, with sources saying that Mr Flynn was urged not to rock the boat ahead of the Supreme Court ruling on a new independence referendum.

But, in what the Telegraph describes as a sign of her diminishing authority since the court ruled against her, Mr Flynn quickly moved again to remove Mr Blackford.

Owen Thompson, the SNP's chief whip at Westminster, informed Mr Blackford after last Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions that Mr Flynn had 23 signatures supporting his leadership challenge - more than half the group.

One MP, who backed Mr Flynn, said last week: "Stephen coming back this quickly from a slap-down would not have happened six months ago. The fact that this is happening shows that her (Ms Sturgeon's) position has weakened."

Craig Hoy, the Scottish Tory chairman, said: "Stephen Flynn's victory over Nicola Sturgeon's candidate is a personal humiliation for the first minister and lays bare the deep splits within the SNP.

"Having persuaded Alison Thewliss to stand as the 'stop-Flynn' candidate, Nicola Sturgeon has been overruled again by her rebellious Westminster MPs. It's clear that the first minister's once-iron grip on her party is slipping."

Ms Sturgeon's allies persuaded Ms Thewliss to stand on Saturday in a last-ditch attempt to stop Mr Flynn being crowned.

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