Today (Tuesday) marks new MP, Graham Leadbitter’s final day as a Councillor in Moray Council.
The MP, who was elected to represent the new constituency of Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey in July, stands down as the Councillor for Elgin City South Ward after a career spanning 17 years.
First elected in 2007, Mr Leadbitter became co-leader of the SNP grouping in 2017, and led Moray Council from 2018-2022, having since returned to the role of co-leader of the opposition.
Commenting, Graham Leadbitter MP said:
“To serve as a Councillor for Elgin was an immense privilege that brought with it great opportunities and experience I’ll take with me in my new role representing this vibrant constituency in parliament.
“It’s a sad day to leave the council after 17 years, a personal highlight of which was being honoured to lead the council between 2018-2022, but I’m relishing the privilege that was placed on me by the electorate in last month’s general election to serve them in a new way.
“I will of course continue to work with councillors of all parties and with council officers on a wide range of local issues where in many cases there will be common ground.
“Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey is host to some of the finest distilleries in the world, a thriving rural economy, a growing energy sector, historic towns and the cathedral city of Elgin, and even the space industry.
“But we also face many challenges, not least in relation to Brexit related worker shortages, energy and rural poverty, and the impact of the previous UK government’s austerity agenda.
“I’ll work hard, as I did in Council, to promote our area, tackle the everyday challenges people face, and I look forward to continuing to stand up for each and every one of my new constituents in the years to come.”
