Stephen Flynn's voting record less than all but one Scottish MP

Stephen Flynn has the second lowest voting record among Scottish MPs since the general election, it has emerged.

The SNP’s Westminster leader has voted 93 times since July – one vote more than his party colleague Seamus Logan. 

Opposition parties have accused Flynn of having “checked out of Westminster”. 

The Scotsman has revealed that in the last 16 months, Flynn has voted less than half the number of times he did in the same period before the general election, when he voted 206 times. 

In some cases, other Scottish MPs have voted hundreds of times more than Flynn in this period, and Nigel Farage, whose attendance at parliament has been criticised in recent months, has voted more than the SNP Westminster leader. 

Flynn is vying to become an MSP, and in May will contest the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine at the Scottish Parliament election.  

If successful, he will vacate his seat at the Commons. 

While SNP MPs do not vote on issues that impact only England and Wales, which in part accounts for Scottish Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem MPs having a higher voting record, Flynn and Logan are the only SNP MPs to have voted less than 100 times. Kirsty Blackman has voted 115 times, Brendan O’Hara 114, and Dave Doogan 113. 

Flynn has voted less than all party leaders, except for Prime Minister Keir Starmer – he has voted only 17 times. 

A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “It is for Stephen Flynn to explain to his constituents why he has decided to take part in so few votes in the House of Commons. 

“Perhaps if he spent less time touring television studios and eyeing up John Swinney’s job, he would have more time to serve his constituency as an MP.” 

Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden said: “Stephen Flynn’s poor voting record suggests he has already checked out of Westminster. 

“While he claims to stand up for Scotland, he’s all too happy to miss crucial votes in the Commons. 

“His constituents will be wondering why he has been more focused on internal plotting rather than representing their interests.” 

Scottish Lib Dem MP Susan Murray said Flynn’s voting record “doesn't come as much of a surprise”. 

She said: “Stephen's eye has been on getting elected to Holyrood almost from the second he was re-elected. 

“I wonder whether his constituents in Aberdeen South think they are getting value for money. 

“Everyone who wants a local representative who will work hard to deliver change with fairness at its heart should back the Liberal Democrats on their peach regional ballot next May.” 

An SNP spokesperson said: “This is a spectacular own goal from the Labour Party given Stephen Flynn has voted 76 more times than Keir Starmer and spoken 100 more times than Scottish Labour MPs.

“The SNP doesn't vote on English only matters but, unlike the Labour Party, SNP MPs always vote in Scotland's interests, including voting against Keir Starmer's damaging austerity cuts and tax hikes, which have hammered families in Scotland.

“In contrast, Scottish Labour MPs must explain why they have repeatedly voted against Scotland’s interests and left people in Scotland worse off by increasing energy bills, slashing winter fuel payments, cutting disabled support, betraying Waspi women and raising taxes on Scottish businesses and farmers. It's no wonder the overwhelming majority of people in Scotland can’t wait to get rid of them at the next election.”