Who's Top Who's Not: Flynn rises up the SNP ranks as Baroness Mone takes leave of absence

With a new SNP leader in Westminster, the publication of Hancock's Covid memoirs and an under-fire Baroness,?Whitehouse Communications?sets out Who's Top Who's Not in Westminster this week.

???Flying High: Stephen Flynn

As predicted in last week’s Who’s Top Who’s Not, the Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South is top dog this week, following his election as the SNP’s new Westminster leader. He had been the only candidate tipped to run for the position, however Alison Thewliss threw her hat into the ring late on Saturday evening, albeit without success.

Flynn faced an immediate test on Wednesday at his first PMQs. On balance, he delivered an assured performance, pressing the Prime Minister on energy bills and Scottish independence, in light of a new poll which puts support for independence at 56%. ?

Flynn picks up the mantle at a testing time for the SNP. Friction between the Westminster party and the Edinburgh contingent is well known, and Flynn is less politically aligned to Sturgeon than Thewliss, who has long been seen as a close ally of the First Minister. He has a big job on his hands to heal rifts within the party and continue to make a positive case for independence in Westminster at a time when the Labour Party – on course to win the next general election – is promising to strengthen Scottish devolution through significant constitutional change.?

???Middle ranking: Matt Hancock

Fresh from eating animal genitalia in the jungle, Hancock published his Pandemic Diaries this week, which hasn’t gone down a treat with the public (not least because of the ￡25 price tag). The Pandemic Diaries recount his experience of leading the country’s response to Covid, however one ex-Tory Minister has questioned some of his recollections, accusing him of “rewriting history”.

Hancock may have wanted his appearance (dare I say it, successful appearance) on I’m a Celeb to have won over the hearts and minds of the public, but having now confirmed his intention not to stand again as an MP, it may be left to the number of books he can flog to determine how popular he really is and whether the gamble paid off. With a reality TV appearance and tell-all book already under his belt, can Hancock carve out a lucrative career as a media personality and become the next Ed Balls?

???Sinking quickly:?Baroness Michelle Mone

Someone who won’t be returning to Parliament anytime soon is Baroness Michelle Mone, who has taken an (official) leave of absence from the House of Lords amid recent allegations that she benefited from a company which won government contracts during Covid.

Hancock’s memoir – the publication of which was aptly timed - also claims that the Baroness sent aggressive and threatening messages to him when trying to secure a contract for an undisclosed company. You know you’ve had a bad week when Matt Hancock is made to look like the good guy…

The decision to remove the Whip only by default has drawn criticism from both sides of the house. Upon his election, Sunak promised to serve with integrity and humility, but his government’s response to this scandal has already called these moral standards into question and is a gift for the Labour leader who is determined to make strong leadership a key dividing line.?