Keith Brown MSP wins SNP depute leader election
2 min read
Veteran MSP Keith Brown was today announced as the depute leader of the Scottish National Party.
The Scottish Economy Secretary was unveiled as the party's new depute leader at their conference in Aberdeen.
Mr Brown secured 55.2% of the vote, beating party activist Julie Hepburn and Inverclyde SNP group leader Chris McEleny to the role.
The MSP succeeds the party’s former Westminster leader Angus Robertson, who stepped down from the role after he lost his Moray seat in last year’s snap general election.
In his victory speech, Mr Brown said that taking up the role was an "honour" as he pledged to fight what he dubbed a "chaotic job-destroying Brexit".
"We’ve made real progress in government despite years of Tory austerity and cuts imposed on Scotland’s budget," he said.
"And while the Tories think they can do anything they want to Scotland and get away with it, we will continue to oppose them and instead promote our ambition for Scotland.
"We will continue to fight the chaotic job-destroying Brexit that threatens to make matters worse.
"With the publication of the Sustainable Growth Commission’s report we have opened a new debate on how Scotland can move beyond the damage and despair of Brexit.
"It’s conclusions are clear: small, independent nations can be successful – and we should, we must, be optimistic about that potential."
His comments come after the SNP's political opponents warned that the Growth Commission plan - ordered by the party to help make the case for independnence - would usher in a “prolonged period of austerity”.
It is the second time that Mr Brown has run for the depute leadership of the party, losing out to Stewart Hosie in a 2014 contest.
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