SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn blasts ‘laddish’ behaviour claim saying he’d rather read a book

The Scottish National Party’s new Westminster leader has tried to dismiss claims he is at the heart of a ‘laddish’ group of beer-willing separatist MPs – saying he’d rather read a good book and drink a spritz.

Stephen Flynn attacked reports about the ‘Tuesday Club’ of SNP politicians who are said to have orchestrated the removal of his predecessor Ian Blackford. 

He said it was ‘upsetting’ to be linked to a ‘laddish’ culture of beer and curry – claiming he can ‘barely stomach korma’.

He told a Scottish magazine that ‘if you give me the opportunity or a bit of free time, I will pick up a book and read … my favourite drink when it’s roasting in the summer, and for which I keep getting slagged off, is an Aperol Spritz … I’m not even a beer-swigger’.

Pictures he has himself shared on his social idea accounts show him enjoying beers. Posts from the last 18 months alone show the Dundee United fan enjoying ales before the football and to celebrate his first day off from parenting his son after many months.

Stephen Flynn attacked reports about the ‘Tuesday Club’ of SNP politicians who are said to have orchestrated the removal of his predecessor Ian Blackford.

He said it was ‘upsetting’ to be linked to a ‘laddish’ culture of beer and curry – claiming he can ‘barely stomach korma’.

He told a Scottish magazine that ‘if you give me the opportunity or a bit of free time, I will pick up a book and read … my favourite drink when it’s roasting in the summer, and for which I keep getting slagged off, is an Aperol Spritz … I’m not even a beer-swigger’.

Posts from the last 18 months alone show the Dundee United fan enjoying beers before the football and to celebrate his first day off from parenting his son after many months.

He told Holyrood magazine claims of laddism would have been upsetting to his late grandmother.

‘I saw one headline that said I was a part of some vindaloo boys’ club. The truth is, I can barely stomach korma, even that is too spicy for me.’

Mr Flynn also told Holyrood magazine that he didn’t even play much football due to a medical problem that saw him undergo a hip replacement in 2020.

Mr Flynn replaced Ian Blackford as Westminster SNP leader last month, but he denied being part of a ‘vindaloo coup’

Mr Flynn also told Holyrood magazine that he didn’t even play much football due to a medical problem that saw him undergo a hip replacement in 2020.

He told the magazine claims of laddism would have been upsetting to his late grandmother.

‘I join colleagues and staff to kick a football about to unwind, he said.

‘I think that’s a good thing. That’s what people do up and down the country. And I know saying this could lose me votes, but contrary to public opinion, I don’t even like curry.

‘I saw one headline that said I was a part of some vindaloo boys’ club. The truth is, I can barely stomach korma, even that is too spicy for me.’

In a bitter irony for the separatist Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon, its 44-strong Westminster team of MPs chose Mr Flynn over her ally Alison Thewliss as their new leader in London last month.

It precipitated several of her backers to announce they would no longer serve on the frontbench.

One, Pete Wishart, stepped down with a barb at Mr Flynn, 34, accusing him of leading a coup against the former Westminster leader Ian Blackford.

Defence spokesman Stewart McDonald, one of the SNP’s most prominent MPs, also quit his role after Mr Flynn vowed to ‘shake things up’, while its chief whip, Owen Thompson, was axed. 

And Chris Law, the Treasury spokesman and Dundee MP, stepped down from the frontbench this morning. He did not give a reason but told the new leader: ‘I truly believe we have never been closer to independence’.

In a letter to his MPs the new Westminster leader said there would be ‘a small reshuffle of the front bench, the creation of a political cabinet and a realignment and refocus of our existing policy groups.’