From making speeches seen by millions to serving as her party’s deputy leader in Westminster, Mhairi Black seemed to be among the emerging stars in politics. At just twenty, she created history when she defeated Labour heavyweight Douglas Alexander in 2015 to win the Paisley and Renfrewshire South seat. Viewed over 10 million times in a few days, her maiden speech in Parliament, in which she fervently addressed poverty, went viral. Admired for her direct, no-nonsense attitude to politics, Mhairi Black rapidly rose to become a well-known player in the political scene.
She did not, however, advance quickly without difficulty. Her mental health suffered later on as she came under scrutiny, criticism, and personal attacks even while she developed a reputation for her passionate speeches and strong opinions.
Benevolent events behind the scenes?
Mhairi Black said she was “flailing through life” and battling extreme anxiety and melancholy away from the House of Commons, notwithstanding her political accomplishments. “Everything was fried; my body, my mind was emotionally fried,” she claimed.
Her panic episodes were so severe she couldn go out without throwing up. “I had no idea why I was feeling this or what was happening. I kept berating myself, thinking, well, everyone else seems to be getting into work well. You are the one unable to handle it?
Her difficulties caused time off from Westminster responsibilities, which drew criticism on her attendance record and absence of constituency surgeries. But she said, “Westminster didn’t have a capacity for signing off, so it looked to the rest of the world like I hadn’t been turning up, when in actual fact, I was in the fetal position in my house.”
Her functioning was hampered by the high-stress political climate as well as the great personal scrutiny she endured. “I was constantly feeling like I was failing at something I worked so hard to achieve,” she added.
How did learning about ADHD alter her life?
Around 2018, Mhairi Black’s life altered when she received an Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. “It was huge since it felt as though someone had just given me the brain’s instruction manual. I suddenly found myself able to reason: I’m just wired differently; I’m not crazy.”
She likened the continuous activity in her mind to the BBC’s Sherlock series, in which Benedict Cumberbatch’s character utilizes his “mind palace” to digest knowledge. “It feels like there’s constantly three conversations in my head—and a song,” she said.
Knowing her illness let her approach life and work differently. It helped me to stop myself from constantly berating myself. She advised me to start learning strategies for working with rather than against my brain.
Mhairi Black chose not to share her condition with anyone at the time even if it would have offered solace. She said, underlining the hostile political environment she had to negotiate, “it would get used against me.”
Was Westminster a toxic place?
When talking about Westminster’s atmosphere, Mhairi Black was unreserved in labeling it “toxic” and “bullying.” What she seen startled her wife, Katie. “When she [Mhairi] started sharing with me her experiences since being in Parliament, I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” she added. “I was shocked at her isolation.”
Mhairi Black remembered seeing political abuse and violent conflicts. She expressed worries inside her party, but the support she got was insufficient. “I think leadership at all levels have been aware of people who have been unhappy with how they have been treated; most people would agree that we could be better in handling it.”
The surroundings made it difficult for her to concentrate on her work. “It felt like I was spending more time battling to be heard than actually doing the work I was elected to do,” she added.
Why Did the SNP Perform So Poorly in the Most Recent Election?
Nine years in government, Mhairi Black left Westminster in 2024 on the same evening her party suffered a devastating loss. The Parliamentary seats of the SNP fell from 48 to only eight.
She said the loss was “an absolute doing” and linked it to “self-inflicted” issues including inside party strife. “In-fighting was leaking out into the public domain,” she claimed. She also noted the consolidation of power inside the party under Nicola Sturgeon and her husband, Peter Murrell, the head executive of the SNP. “Many people hit their limit since they felt their voices weren’t being listened to inside the party,” she said.
Mhairi Black also cautioned that members may “mass migrate” if the SNP turned away from left-wing politics under leaders like current deputy leader Kate Forbes—who maintains conservative views on topics like gay marriage, abortion, and trans rights.
“The SNP has always been strongest when it stays to its progressive roots,” she said. Should we neglect that, we run the danger of losing the faith of those who believed in us.”
How affected was she by abuse and threats?
Mhairi Black suffered constant internet abuse over her career. She had earlier discussed the terrible messages she came across, including slights based on her appearance and sexuality. Among the nasty remarks aimed at her were “too ugly to be raped” and “you can’t put lipstick on a pig”.
She also got death threats; one of them prompted police to pay visits to her houses in Scotland and London. “It was like two in the morning, and the word used was “an impending death threat”. She thought back, not sure what I had done to cause you to strongly detest me so much.”
Her health suffered with the weight and anxiety. “It’s difficult to explain how you can feel so alone and unsafe with nothing more than your phone sitting there,” she added.
How Different Life Is After Politics?
Mhairi Black has faced fresh challenges since leaving parliament, including doing a one-woman performance at the Edinburgh Festival and talking about politics on several TV shows and podcasts.
When she thought back on leaving Westminster, she expressed no guilt. “People want a representation that wants to be there, and I don’t think I anymore reflect that. I have done my fair share.
Simple joys provide her delight right now. “Doing something normal on a Tuesday, going for a walk with my wee best buddy, is much better than running around Westminster,” she remarked.
She has also concentrated on mental health advocacy, presenting on ADHD, anxiety, and the value of workplace assistance on her platform. “It’s worth it if my experience can help even one person understand themselves better,” she added.
Mhairi Black is still a loud participant in public debate even if she has turned her back on official politics. “Just because I’m not in Parliament doesn’s mean I’m done speaking up for what I believe in,” she remarked.
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