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New job at Westminster for Badenoch and Strathspey’s MP





Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP Graham Leadbitter has a new role for SNP at Westminster.
Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP Graham Leadbitter has a new role for SNP at Westminster.

Badenoch and Strathspey MP Graham Leadbitter has been named as the SNP’s new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson at Westminster.

He is taking over the role from Dave Doogan MP who has joined the Scottish Affairs Committee.

The Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP has said he will use the role to hold the UK government to account over its failure to live up to its pre-election promises to drastically reduce energy bills by £300 a year.

Despite the promise from the Labour party, energy bills have actually risen since Keir Starmer took office, with the average household paying £281 more per year - a difference of £581.

The latest predictions from Eon, British Gas & EDF, published last week, show the energy price cap is currently predicted to rise a further three times in the coming year, with increases of 2 to 3% in October when households are using more energy, a further 1% in January and a further 3% in April 2026.

Mr Leadbitter said he will also continue to put pressure on the UK government to deliver for local people and Highlanders by implementing a Highland Energy Rebate - a policy he has campaigned on since his election in July, and has previously met with both the UK and Scottish Governments to discuss.

Mr Leadbitter MP said: “I’m delighted to be taking over this role which will allow me to put local people’s energy concerns front and centre of the SNP’s work at Westminster.

“This is an area famous for producing excess clean energy, and yet consumers here pay some of the highest energy prices in the world.

“That’s a disgrace - not least because this Labour government promised to cut people’s bills by £300 per year. Instead they’ve risen by £281, leaving people nearly £600 worse off from what was promised to them.

“Since taking office in July this Labour government has presided over consecutive hikes to the energy price cap, which is set to rise another three times over the next year, and an economy that is placing increasing financial burdens on households across Scotland.

“Westminster’s energy policy needs to focus on delivering more affordable bills for households, delivering net zero, and ensuring the areas that produce the most energy are rewarded, not punished for it.

“The SNP’s record on energy at Westminster has seen us successfully push for a U-turn to the Labour government’s disgraceful Winter Fuel cut, call for the introduction of a Highland Energy rebate, and a fair deal for energy consumers right across Scotland.

“I look forward to building on those efforts and leading on energy policy to deliver for our communities.”


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