John Lamont sacked as Shadow Scottish Secretary after backing Tory leadership loser

John Lamont, the Member of Parliament for Berwickshire, Roxburgh, and Selkirk, has been removed from his position as Shadow Scottish Secretary following his support for the unsuccessful candidate in the recent Tory leadership contest. Kemi Badenoch took the decision to dismiss Lamont from the Conservative frontbench on Tuesday morning. Lamont had backed Robert Jenrick over Badenoch in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak as the new leader of the party.

Having held the role of Shadow Scottish Secretary since the Conservatives’ general election loss in July, Lamont’s support for Jenrick was seen as unexpected, as he is not typically aligned with the right-wing faction of the party. Andrew Bowie, the MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, who endorsed Badenoch in the leadership race, has now taken over Lamont’s position. Bowie, who has been in office since 2017, previously served as Shadow Energy Secretary.

Lamont, who has been an MP since 2017 and previously served as an MSP from 2007, faced criticism for his pro-Jenrick stance, particularly as immigration was cited as the main reason for his support. Following Badenoch’s victory in the leadership contest, Jenrick was appointed as Shadow Justice Secretary, while Priti Patel was named Shadow Foreign Secretary.

The reshuffling within the Conservative Party also saw Mel Stride appointed as Shadow Chancellor and Chris Philp as Shadow Home Secretary. Notably, Bowie is the only Scottish MP to have been included in Badenoch’s shadow cabinet, reflecting his support for her leadership bid. The dynamics within the party have shifted with these changes, and it remains to be seen how this will impact future policies and strategies, especially in relation to Scotland.

In conclusion, the removal of John Lamont as Shadow Scottish Secretary marks a significant development within the Conservative Party, highlighting the aftermath of the recent leadership contest and the realignment of key positions within the party. The decision to replace Lamont with Andrew Bowie underscores the importance of loyalty and alignment with party leadership in shaping the party’s direction and priorities, particularly in the context of Scottish politics.