Stewart Hosie elected deputy leader of SNP

STEWART Hosie has won the race to become Deputy leader of the SNP, beating off competition from MSPs Angela Constance and Keith Brown.

Nicola Sturgeon is formally announced as the new leader of the SNP and Stewart Hosie MP replaces her as deputy leader. Picture: Getty

The Dundee East MP won both rounds of voting in contest which was announced at the SNP conference in Perth today.

The MP says he looks forward to holding the UK parties’ “feet to the fire” on the pledge to bring more powers to Scotland in the aftermath of the referendum.

“This is important to make sure they fulfil their promise, their pledge - the vow” he said.

“Remember what it was they told the Scottish people, many of whom voted No to get more powers - the closest thing to a federal state within one to two years.

“Let’s make sure they deliver that promise and let’s make sure they do it with the largest number, a record number of SNP MPs next.”

Mr Hosie won 42.2% of votes in the first round of voting with Mr Brown taking 34.2% and Ms Constance taking 23.5%. The run off between Mr Hosie and Mr Brown saw the MP take 55.5% while Mr Brown got 44.5%.

A total of 34,934 votes were cast in the depute leadership election – with a turnout of 55.7 per cent. This represents some ten thousand more people voting than the SNP had members on referendum day. In the final vote – after the redistribution of votes from Ms Constance – Stewart Hosie secured 18,915 votes compared to 15,150 for Keith Brown, equating to 55.5 per cent to 44.5 per cent.

Although he he now Deputy leader of the party, it is still Angus Robertson who is leader of the Nationalists’ MPs group at Westminster. Alex Salmond is also considering the prospect of running for Westminster next May.

Mr Hosie the independence debate has “changed Scotland forever.”

He said: “The referendum campaign unleashed a new wave of confidence in Scotland – and with our soaring membership and Nicola Sturgeon engaging with people at public events across the country, the SNP is uniquely placed to harness this unprecedented level of engagement.

“Our main focus as a party and a government must be to build a stronger economy which works for everyone in Scotland – creating more and better jobs and tackling the inequality which successive Westminster governments have allowed to grow for far too long.”

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