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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Andrew Quinn

Martin Docherty-Hughes quits as SNP Westminster Chief Whip after just six weeks

The SNP's chief whip at Westminster has resigned just six weeks after taking the job.

Martin Docherty-Hughes said he was standing down due to the time commitments of the role.

He will be replaced by Argyll and Bute MP Brendan O'Hara, who was previously the SNP's spokesperson for international development.

He replaces West Dunbartonshire MP Martin Docherty-Hughes who is stepping down due to the time commitments of the role.

The chief whip is tasked with maintaining party discipline and making sure MPs follow the position of the leader.

Docherty-Hughes had only taken up the role in December after Stephen Flynn became SNP Westminster leader.

O'Hara was elected as MP for Argyll and Bute in 2015. He has held several frontbench roles in the past.

He was spokesperson for digital, culture, media and sport between June 2017 and May 2018. He was spokesperson for defence for two years before that.

The 59-year-old was born in Glasgow and went to St Andrew's Secondary in Carntyne.

He studied Economic History and Modern History at Strathclyde University and worked as a TV producer before being elected as an MP.

He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1987 and 1992 general elections.

Docherty-Hughes was elected as MP for West Dunbartonshire in 2015. His short stint as chief whip is the only time he has held a frontbench role.

He was Scotland's youngest councillor when he was elected to Clydebank District Council in 1992 at the age of 21.

The chief whip position had previously been held by Midlothian MP Owen Thompson before Docherty-Hughes.

Disgraced MP Patrick Grady had been SNP Westminster chief whip before that. Grady stood aside from the position in March 2021 after he was accused of sexual misconduct by an SNP staff member.

Grady was temporarily suspended as a member of the SNP in June 2022. He had his membership restored last month.

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