Statement: Ian Blackford
/The SNP Group Leader at Westminster has decided he was stepping aside from that position. I pay tribute to the work Ian has undertaken in that time.
He has faced four Tory Prime Ministers in that time and two Labour Leaders. He regularly challenged the UK Government and remained firm on the problems with Brexit, while the Labour Party has moved to mimic the Tories on Brexit for fear of upsetting voters.
All polling evidence points to people thinking that Brexit was a mistake and that there is support for re-joining the single market. So, wholesale changes that will improve the economy will actually be supported by the wider electorate.
The issue is that Labour and the Tories obsessively focus on appealing to the swing voters in the former “red wall” seats. It is an incoherent way to form a strategy and I am so grateful the SNP has had strong leadership over this period.
I know our new Westminster Group Leader will continue from where Ian left off.
