Former Member of Parliament Mhairi Black has officially announced she is leaving the Scottish National Party (SNP), citing major disagreements with the party’s recent decisions—especially on trans rights and the conflict in Palestine.
In an interview with *The Herald*, Black said there had been “too many times” when she did not agree with the direction the SNP was taking. “For a long time, I’ve not agreed with quite a few decisions,” she stated, adding that the party had “capitulated” on issues that matter deeply to her.
Black, now 30, rose to political fame in 2015 when she was elected at just 20 years old, defeating senior Labour politician Douglas Alexander in Paisley and Renfrewshire South. At the time, she became the youngest MP elected since 1832. Her powerful maiden speech in Parliament quickly went viral and made headlines across the UK.
Although she was re-elected in 2017 and 2019, Black often spoke about her struggles with the toxic environment at Westminster, constant social media abuse, and the toll politics took on her mental health. Diagnosed with ADHD during her time in office, she said she battled burnout while trying to manage her responsibilities.
She stepped down as an MP ahead of the 2024 general election, saying she was done with party politics. At the time, she said she was 99.9% sure she would not return to politics or run for the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood).
Now, her decision to quit the SNP entirely appears final.
She said her departure was partly driven by her concerns about the growing influence of Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, whose socially conservative views—particularly on women’s rights and trans issues—clashed with her own beliefs. Black expressed disappointment that the party did not do more to defend gender recognition reforms passed in 2022, which were later blocked by the UK government.
“I’m still just as pro-independence as I’ve always been,” Black said, “but the SNP has let down the LGBT community, especially trans people. I also believe it could be doing a lot more in support of Palestine.”
Scottish First Minister John Swinney expressed regret over her departure. “I wish Mhairi had continued her membership. We’re committed to LGBT rights and pursuing peace in Gaza,” he said.
An SNP spokesperson responded to the announcement, saying the party remains united under John Swinney’s leadership and is committed to creating a fairer Scotland.
Mhairi Black will now focus on new ventures outside politics, including her upcoming one-woman show *Work in Progress* at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Despite leaving the political stage, her impact remains significant, with many seeing her as one of the most passionate and honest voices to have emerged from Scottish politics in the last decade.
