Graham Leadbitter

Graham Leadbitter
MP
Official portrait, 2026
Member of Parliament
for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded byConstituency created
Majority1,001 (2.1%)
Personal details
PartyScottish National Party
EducationOpen University

Graham Leadbitter is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey in Scotland since the 2024 United Kingdom general election.

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.

Political career

Leadbitter was as a councillor for the Elgin City South ward on Moray Council at the 2007 local elections, and was re-elected in 2012, 2017 and 2022; he resigned in 2024. In 2017 he has made the co-leader of the SNP grouping on the council, 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. A by-election was held in the Elgin City South ward on 7 November 2024, and was won by Conservative candidate Elaine Kirby. After being elected in 2024, Leadbitter was selected to participate in the 2024-25 Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme in the Royal Air Force. He currently serves as an Officer of the APPGs for Scotch Whisky and Space and also serves as Vice Chair of the Wood Panel Industry APPG.

References

  1. ↑ "Moray W, Nairn & Strathspey | General Election 2024". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Graham Leadbitter | Linkedin Profile". LinkedIn. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "Moray Council Councillor List". Moray Council. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  4. ↑ Hendry, Ben (6 May 2017). "Tory success sends message: Moray no longer an SNP stronghold". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  5. ↑ Malcolm, Ewan (12 September 2023). "Former Moray Council leader Graham Leadbitter seeks SNP nomination for Westminster election". The Northern Scot. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  6. ↑ Robertson, Adam (8 November 2024). "SNP lose fourth council seat to Scottish Tories after Moray by-election". The National. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  7. ↑ McBlane, Lewis (8 November 2024). "Moray by-election win in Elgin City South for Conservative candidate Elaine Kirby". The Northern Scot. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  8. ↑ "AFPT Past Schemes 2024-25". Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Graham Leadbitter APPG Officer Roles". UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 May 2026.