Yousaf insists SNP have ‘played key role at Westminster’ after Keith Brown’ suggested it could shun the UK parliament

Humza Yousaf has suggested further criticism of his party deputy over a row about whether the party should disengage from Westminster.

First Minister Humza Yousaf (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/pool/Getty Images)

First Minister Humza Yousaf insisted his MPs “have played a key role at Westminster” in another apparent criticism of his SNP deputy leader who suggested the party could shun the UK parliament.

Mr Yousaf has responded after Labour’s Ian Murray criticised him for comments made by SNP deputy leader Keith Brown.

Mr Brown suggested that “ it seems we now need to examine whether it is right to confer any legitimacy on an institution determined to deny democracy in Scotland”.

He added: “Some have believed for many years that Scotland should withdraw from Westminster, while others believe it is necessary to be there, to make arguments on Scotland’s behalf, to promote and protect Scotland’s interests. I have tended to agree with this.

“But when the institution can so easily be manipulated to thwart Scotland’s representatives, the issue needs, in my view, to be re-examined.”

The SNP group in Westminster was allegedly mulling over a campaign of "disengagement" with day-to-day parliamentary activities, after a furious breakdown in relations between the party and the House of Commons Speaker over the shambolic Gaza debate. But the party's Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, was forced to deny that the SNP was planning to disengage.

Mr Brown walked back his remarks after several in the SNP, including Mr Yousaf, stressed that the party was still keen to take Westminster seriously, ahead of a general election campaign.

Mr Murray, Labour’s shadow Scotland secretary, wrote to the First Minister, asking him to “confirm as a matter of urgency that your MPs will not be abstaining from Westminster”. The Labour MP added that Mr Brown was “suggesting that SNP MPs would take their generous salaries and large expenses while not showing up to represent the constituents that elect them”.

He said that there was a “significant amount of confusion around what the SNP’s official position is” regarding whether to fully take part in Westminster. Addressing Mr Yousaf, Mr Murray claimed that “your MPs have been disengaged with Westminster for years, and after almost nine years since most of their elections to Parliament, they have delivered nothing for communities across Scotland”.

In a response sent to Mr Murray, seen by Scotland on Sunday, Mr Yousaf has stressed that “SNP MPs have played a key role at Westminster”, adding his politicians are “standing up for their constituents and ensuring UK government action on issues such as neonatal care, employment rights, plaid bereavement leave for those who have suffered a miscarriage, rejoining the Horizon research scheme, granting asylum seekers the right to work and vital action on the cost of living”.

In another dig at Labour, the First Minister said “the SNP has been the leading voice at Westminster on an immediate ceasefire and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches those suffering in Gaza”.

He added: “However, it remains disappointing that Labour continues to refuse to support the SNP’s calls to recognise the collective punishment of the Palestinian people - a term which has been used by the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres, since January. The SNP leader claimed that “in comparison, the Labour party have, of course, U-turned on commitments”.