Moray Council stalwart Graham Leadbitter steps down as councillor for new role as Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP
A councillor who has served his ward for close to two decades has stepped down.
Graham Leadbitter has served Elgin City South as a councillor since 2007.
But his 17 years of service were brought to an end today (August 13) after Mr Leadbitter was elected MP for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey in July.
He became co-leader of the SNP grouping in 2017, going on to lead Moray Council between 2018 and 2022 before returning as co-leader of the opposition.
He will now depart the role after beating Conservative candidate Kathleen Robertson in July’s General Election.
Mr Leadbitter described his time as a councillor as an “immense privilege” which he feels will equip him well for his new role at Westminster.
He said: “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.”
Mr Leadbitter’s election has triggered a by-election in his former ward which will be contested on November 7.
The count will take place the following day from 10am.
