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SNP chief Ian Blackford dismisses resignation rumours

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has denied rumors he was considering leaving his post.

The Politico website had claimed the MP was reconsidering his position due to infighting among party MPs.

Mr Blackford told BBC Scotland there was “nothing in it”.

Other SNP members came to defend the Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP, with Stewart McDonald saying the story was “made up by people who had the luxury of having too much time on their hands”.

Mr Blackford took over as the party’s Westminster leader in 2017 after Angus Robertson lost his seat in that year’s general election.

Politico’s daily newsletter said it spoke to four party officials who said they believed his departure could come before the May council elections.

It said there had been a “weeks-long argument” over statements Mr Blackford had made about pensions in an independent Scotland, citing an unnamed MP who described his position as an “unforced error”.

The article also said there had been tensions between Mr Blackford and other senior MPs, including Mr McDonald and the party’s foreign policy spokesman, Alyn Smith.

However, both men have denied the story, with Mr McDonald tweeting that Politico was “had”.

Mr Blackford himself told BBC Scotland it was “as if the summer slump came early”.

He said: “I have a good team, a strong team, we’re getting on with the work.

“I will do so in the safe knowledge that I have a group that has my back and a Government in Edinburgh that we work closely with.

“Let’s focus on the daily task of holding the government to account, managing the crisis in Ukraine and delivering on the commitments of the Scottish Government’s Manifesto.”

Asked if MPs were uneasy about the lack of progress in holding a new referendum on Scottish independence, Mr Blackford said the party was “serious” about casting a vote.