Stephen Flynn: What you need to know about the SNP's Westminster leader
As we head towards election day, we take a look at how the 35-year-old has risen through the ranks of the SNP to become one of Scotland's top politicians.
Wednesday 12 June 2024 14:16, UK
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has been out on the campaign trail as the general election looms closer.
As we head towards voting day on 4 July, we take a look at how the 35-year-old has risen through the ranks of the SNP to become one of Scotland's top politicians.
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Early life and background
Mr Flynn - the most recent MP for Aberdeen South - was born in Dundee on 13 October 1988 and was raised in the city and in nearby Brechin, Angus.
He studied politics at the University of Dundee before moving to Aberdeen - however his "guilty pleasure" is returning to his hometown to support Dundee United.
Since he was a teenager Mr Flynn has suffered from a painful condition called avascular necrosis, which causes the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply, and underwent a successful hip replacement in 2020.
Mr Flynn, whose dad is Dundee councillor Mark Flynn, is married to his wife Lynn and has two sons.
Political path
Mr Flynn worked as an assistant to ex-SNP MP Callum McCaig and in the office of Maureen Watt, a former MSP for the Scottish Nationalists.
In 2015, he was elected to Aberdeen City Council in a by-election for the Kincorth, Nigg and Cove ward.
He served as leader of the SNP group at the local authority from 2016 until his election to parliament in 2019.
Mr Flynn beat Scottish Tory Douglas Lumsden, who had been attempting to hold on to the Aberdeen South seat after his colleague Ross Thomson stood down.
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In his maiden speech at Westminster, he warned Conservative members that "we will not forget, and we will not forgive this government".
He added: "Scotland rejects your austerity. Scotland rejects your Brexit. Just as Scotland rejected your prime minister."
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Mr Flynn was promoted to the frontbench in 2021 and would go on to replace Ian Blackford as the SNP's Westminster leader in December 2022, fending off competition from colleague Alison Thewliss.
Then first minister Nicola Sturgeon described Mr Flynn and his new deputy Mhairi Black as a "truly formidable team".
SNP colleague Joanna Cherry later praised his leadership, noting he was "tolerant" of opposing views and committed to addressing division within the SNP.
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Mr Flynn has been touted as a potential future party leader - despite not running in the recent SNP leadership race to replace Humza Yousaf, which John Swinney went on to win.
As he is not an MSP, it would have been difficult to become first minister at Holyrood.
However, Mr Flynn will be worth keeping an eye on at the next Scottish parliament election. If he announces plans to run as an MSP, that could be part of a move towards Scotland's top job.