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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Steph Brawn

SNP reshuffle frontbench at Westminster as two MPs switch roles

Deidre Brock and Pete Wishart have switched roles

THE SNP's frontbench has gone through a reshuffle after Westminster returned to action this week. 

Edinburgh North and Leith MP Deidre Brock and Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart have switched roles, with Brock becoming shadow leader of the house and Wishart taking up the position of environment and rural affairs spokesperson. 

Brock will fulfill her new role alongside her responsibility as COP26 spokesperson.

Brock said: "I’m excited to be taking on the role as the SNP's shadow leader of the house in Westminster and to be holding UK Government ministers to account in these troubling times.

“For far too long Tory ministers have treated legitimate concerns raised by MPs with contempt and done their best to bypass proper scrutiny and due process in Westminster.

"With the growing threat of the Tory-made cost of living crisis and harmful Tory policies, it's more important than ever that MPs are able to properly challenge the UK Government, and I will take every opportunity to do exactly that."

There have been no other changes made, with Ian Blackford remaining as SNP Westminster leader and Kirsten Oswald his deputy.

Wishart added: "I am delighted to be taking on my new role as the SNP's shadow environment, food and rural affairs spokesperson at Westminster at this crucial time. 

"With the challenges facing our communities and businesses - including the impact of the Tories' extreme Brexit obsession - it is vital that we hold the Westminster Tory government to account and stand up for Scotland's interests.

"Whilst I welcome the new DEFRA Secretary of State [Ranil Jayawardena] to his position, it's clear that a changing of the guard will do next to nothing to assuage concerns over the direction the Tory government is dragging Scotland and the UK down - with Scotland's food and farming sector paying a heavy price for harmful Westminster policies.

"There's no doubt that only by becoming an independent country will we be able to protect Scotland's interests and build a fairer and more prosperous country."

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