Graham Leadbitter
{{Short description|British politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Graham Leadbitter
| honorific-suffix = MP
| image = Official portrait of Graham Leadbitter MP crop 2.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2024
| office = Member of Parliament
for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey
| parliament = United Kingdom
| majority = 1,001 (2.1%)
| term_start = 4 July 2024
| term_end =
| predecessor = Constituency created
| successor =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| party = Scottish National Party
| website =
| alma_mater = Open University
}}
Graham Leadbitter is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey since 2024.{{Cite web |title=Moray W, Nairn & Strathspey {{!}} General Election 2024 |url=https://election.news.sky.com/elections/general-election-2024/moray-w-nairn-and-strathspey-409 |access-date=5 July 2024 |publisher=Sky News}}
Early life and career
Leadbitter was educated at Biggar High School, and studied computing at the Open University, where he received a diploma. Leadbitter worked as a constituency press officer for then Moray MP Angus Robertson and Moray MSP Richard Lochhead from 2001 until 2007.{{Cite web |title=Graham Leadbitter {{!}} Linkedin Profile |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-leadbitter-b17377a0/?originalSubdomain=uk |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=LinkedIn}}
Political career
Leadbitter served as a Councillor for the Elgin City South ward on Moray Council from 2007 until August 2024.{{Cite web |title=Moray Council Councillor List |url=https://moray.cmis.uk.com/moray/CouncilandGovernance/Councillors/tabid/63/ctl/ViewCMIS_Person/mid/383/id/31/ScreenMode/Alphabetical/Default.aspx |access-date=9 July 2024 |publisher=Moray Council}} In 2017 he has made the co-leader of the SNP grouping on the council,{{cite news |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/1237701/triumph-and-tears-during-moray-council-vote/ |title=Tory success sends message: Moray no longer an SNP stronghold |first=Ben |last=Hendry |work=The Press and Journal |date=6 May 2017 |access-date=9 July 2024}} and between 2018 and 2022 he served as council leader. From 2022 until 2024 he was a co-leader of the SNP opposition grouping on the council. Leadbitter was selected as the SNP candidate for the Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency in October 2023, and was elected to Parliament at the 2024 general election.{{Cite web |last=Malcolm |first=Ewan |date=12 September 2023 |title=Former Moray Council leader Graham Leadbitter seeks SNP nomination for Westminster election |url=https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/former-council-leader-graham-leadbitter-seeks-snp-nomination-326237/ |access-date=9 July 2024 |publisher=The Northern Scot}} A by-election was held in the Elgin City South ward on 7 November 2024, and was won by Conservative candidate Elaine Kirby.{{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Adam |date=8 November 2024 |title=SNP lose fourth council seat to Scottish Tories after Moray by-election |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/24710617.snp-lose-fourth-council-seat-scottish-tories-moray-by-electio/ |access-date=8 November 2024 |work=The National}}{{Cite news |last=McBlane |first=Lewis |date=8 November 2024 |title=Moray by-election win in Elgin City South for Conservative candidate Elaine Kirby |url=https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/conservatives-win-knife-edge-elgin-city-south-by-election-365790/ |access-date=8 November 2024 |work=The Northern Scot}}
References
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External links
{{commons category}}
{{UK MP links
| parliament = 5277
| publicwhip = Graham_Leadbitter
| theywork = 26499
}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-new|constituency}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey|years=2024–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Scottish National Party MPs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leadbitter, Graham}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Scottish National Party MPs
Category:People from Biggar, South Lanarkshire
Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Highland constituencies