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Stephen Flynn has won the race to replace Ian Blackford as leader of the SNP in Westminster. He is expected to make his first appearance in the House of Commons as Westminster leader at tomorrow's Prime Minister's Questions. Mr Flynn received 26 votes, while Alison Thewliss received 17.
The MP for Aberdeen South has said he will appoint SNP MP Mhairi Black as his deputy.
Reacting to the news on Twitter, Mr Blackford said: "Congratulations to Stephen Flynn on being elected the SNP Westminster leader.
"I look forward to supporting Stephen as he takes on the responsibility of taking the group forward as we work to deliver independence."
Mr Flynn previously denied that he would be standing as leader of the party, saying he had "no intention of doing so".
This came after a source told The Times that Mr Flynn had been "on manoeuvres for some time" to challenge Mr Blackford's leadership.
According to the Telegraph, Ms Sturgeon stepped in two weeks ago to stop the coup but MPs are said to be unhappy at her plan to use the next general election as a de facto independence referendum.
In a statement released last Thursday, Mr Blackford said he told MP colleagues he would not continue in the role he has held for five years.
In the run-up to the next general election, which the SNP plans to run as a de facto referendum, Mr Blackford said that "now is the time for fresh leadership". #
He confirmed he will continue as an MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber.
Just one week before, Mr Blackford had told the Scotsman he "looked forward" to putting himself forward for re-election as the party's Westminster leader, adding that he hoped to be "the MP which leads the SNP group out of Westminster for the last time".
The First Minister paid tribute to Mr Blackford in the wake of his resignation, saying he did an "outstanding job in holding the Tory government to account".
She said: "I would like to pay tribute to Ian Blackford for his five years as leader of the SNP’s Westminster group.
"He led the group at a time of huge electoral success for the SNP, particularly at the 2019 general election, and has done an outstanding job in holding the Tory government to account and in promoting the case for Independence.
"I would like to place on record my thanks for Ian’s diligence, tenacity, friendship and loyalty in his time as group Leader.
"He will continue to play an important role as constituency MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, and I have also asked him to take on a role as part of the wider SNP team preparing the case for Independence.
"I look forward to working with Ian’s successor as group leader at Westminster, as we continue to make the case for the people of Scotland to have a democratic choice on the country’s future."
