SNP reshuffle: Who is in the SNP's Westminster frontbench team as Stephen Flynn announces surprise reshuffle - the winners and losers

The SNP says this reshuffle is part of its plans to ramp up preparations for next year’s general election

Stephen Flynn has announced a surprise reshuffle of the SNP’s frontbench team at Westminster.

The party says this is part of its plans to ramp up preparations for next year’s general election, and will put pressure on the UK Government when it comes to tackling the cost-of-living crisis.

The move triggered by the SNP Westminster leader comes on the same day as Sir Keir Starmerreshuffles UK Labour’s shadow cabinet, and only a day before First Minister Humza Yousaf resets his party in Holyrood by unveiling his Programme for Government.

There will now be more women in the frontbench team, with Amy Callaghan MP becoming health spokesperson and Anum Qaisar MP becoming levelling-up spokesperson.

Others getting new roles include Drew Hendry MP as energy spokesman and Tommy Sheppard MP as Scotland spokesperson.

There are a number being kept on in the frontbench team as well, including Mhairi Black, who is staying on as the party’s deputy Westminster leader despite the fact she is standing down at the next general election.

There are some notable absences from the new frontbench team, including veteran MP Pete Wishart and Joanna Cherry KC, who has recently spoken out against the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens, and the Scottish Government’s gender reforms.

The SNP’s new Westminster frontbench team includes:

Westminster leader Stephen Flynn MP

Deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black MP

Chief whip Owen Thompson MP

House of Commons business spokesperson Deidre Brock MP

Economy spokesperson Drew Hendry MP

Levelling-up spokesperson Anum Qaisar MP

Social justice spokesperson David Linden MP

Home affairs spokesperson Alison Thewliss MP

Justice and immigration spokesperson Chris Stephens MP

Attorney General spokesperson Patricia Gibson MP

Europe and EU accession spokesperson Alyn Smith MP

Science, innovation, technology and education spokesperson Carol Monaghan MP

Scotland spokesperson Tommy Sheppard MP

International development spokesperson Anne McLaughlin MP

Foreign affairs spokesperson Brendan O’Hara MP

Women and equalities spokesperson Kirsten Oswald MP

Environment, farming, agriculture and rural affairs spokesperson Steven Bonnar MP

Cabinet Office spokesperson Kirsty Blackman MP

Business and trade in Northern Ireland and Wales spokesperson Richard Thomson MP

Health spokesperson Amy Callaghan MP

Transport spokesperson Gavin Newlands MP

Energy security and net zero spokesperson Dave Doogan MP

Digital, culture, media and sport spokesperson John Nicolson MP

Defence spokesperson Martin Docherty-Hughes MP

Mr Flynn said the reshuffle would renew the “positive case” for independence and for Scotland re-joining the EU, and give the “best route to securing strong and sustained economic growth”.

In announcing the reshuffle, he also attacked the Labour Party for their record on Brexit, setting his party as their competition ahead of the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, which has been billed as a straight fight between the Labour Party and the SNP.

Mr Flynn said: “The Tories trashed the UK economy – and it’s increasingly clear the Tory-lite Labour Party is offering no change from the disastrous policies that got the UK into this mess.

“Under Sir Keir Starmer, they back Brexit, austerity cuts, and creeping privatisation of the NHS, which will take the UK down the path to long-term decline and hammer the income of families in Scotland.

“The SNP is the party with a plan to deliver strong economic growth – and reduce the cost of living. Scotland is an energy rich country with huge resources.

“By rejoining the EU, and investing in the renewable energy gold rush, we can build a wealthier, greener and fairer future.

“Over the coming months, my new team will continue to put the Westminster-made cost-of-living crisis at the forefront of our work – and we will make the case that voting SNP is the only way to secure independence, boost the economy, and deliver the real hope, and real change the public so badly deserve.”