Mhairi Black says she 'hates Westminster' may not run for election again in 2020
Youngest MP in nearly 400 years may stand down after single term, saying she finds Parliament 'depressing'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Mhairi Black could stand down at the next election as she “hates” being in Westminster.
The outspoken SNP politician, who became the youngest MP since the 17th century in 2015, has admitted she finds being in the House of Commons “depressing” despite two years in her role as Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP.
The 22-year-old told the Sunday Post: “It has been nearly two years and I still hate the place.
“It is the personal elements – it is a pain to come up and down every week and you are working with a number of people you find quite troubling.
“Professionally, it is more just that so little gets done. It is so old and defunct in terms of its systems and procedures – a lot of the time, it is just a waste of time.”
She said she was not sure if she would run for election again in 2020 but she is relaxed about her future.“I have a habit of falling into things,” she said “I fell into university, fell into this and have fallen into most jobs I’ve had.”
Ms Black, who became a household name when she unseated Labour’s shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander at the age of 20, has become an outspoken campaigner on social issues with her maiden speech on welfare cuts being viewed over 10 million times on YouTube.
In particular she is praised as a straight talking politician who young voters relate to.
She made headlines earlier this week when she appeared to mouth “you talk s***e hen” to Conservative MP Caroline Nokes during a debate about housing benefit cuts in the Commons.
But Ms Black said she is fed up of people fixating on her youth and said during the election campaign people had focused on the issues.
She said: “I’m sick of folk mentioning it.
“What I always say is that trying to tailor politics to be ‘young, hip and cool’ is exactly the kind of patronising guff that puts off young folk.
“If you want to talk to young folk about politics then just talk politics. They will listen.”
She denied claims that she could be a future SNP leader saying: “Have you seen how little personal time Nicola Sturgeon has? I wouldn’t fancy that at all”.
But she is adamant she would play a significant role in the Yes campaign if there is a second independence referendum.
She said: “I would do whatever I need to do. It is why I got into this whole game, so aye I would. Independence is going to happen.
“I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but it is going to happen. All roads point to it.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments