Edinburgh North and Leith MP Deidre Brock is part of the SNP’s new Westminster Group leadership team, announced ahead of today’s Queen’s Speech by new group leader Ian Blackford MP. Ms Brock will be frontbench spokesperson on Devolved Government Relations and Northern Ireland and Fair Work and Employment.
Deidre said: “I’m delighted to be appointed to the SNP’s front bench in Westminster. There is some serious work to be done opposing the cruelty of this Tory Government which appears to see the poor, the vulnerable and the disadvantaged people in society as some kind of burden. They’ll be facing an opposition in the SNP that will not rest in pursuit of the best interests of the Scottish people.
“We’ve still to see the deal that Theresa May has done with the DUP but I can give an assurance, here and now, that the SNP MPs will fight to protect the rights of all people in Scotland, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race or religion and that will be central to our work.
“The coming contests will be hard and bruising – not least for the people on the receiving end of the UK Government’s policies – but the SNP’s MPs will not shirk from the task; we may be a smaller group than previously but we have talent, enthusiasm and stamina in spades. We’ll be there at every turn.”
The SNP remains the third biggest group at Westminster with 35 MPs, despite losing 21 seats in the 8 June general election. Among the casualties were former leader Alex Salmond and the SNP group’s Westminster leader Angus Robertson.
The SNP’s Westminster group elected Ian Blackford as leader last week
Announcing his front-bench leadership team yesterday, Mr Blackford said: “I am delighted to announce our new leadership team and our frontbench spokespeople, drawing on the huge wealth of talent and experience across the party from areas including business, our public services, and charity sectors.
“As Scotland’s leading party at Westminster, and the third party across the UK, the SNP has a huge opportunity, and pivotal position, in this hung parliament to stand up for Scotland’s interests and make our voice heard.”
The 12-member, gender-balanced group leadership team is made up entirely of members first elected in 2015.
Group deputy leader, Kirsty Blackman, takes on the role of economy spokesperson, replacing Stewart Hosie, and Stephen Gethins becomes international affairs and Europe spokesperson. Neil Gray is the SNP’s new social justice spokesman and Hannah Bardell takes on trade and investment.
Other appointments include Angus MacNeil (environment and rural affairs spokesman). Mhairi Black (pensions and youth affairs)and Patrick Grady (chief whip).
24
0
20
