

The SNP have appointed two new Energy spokesman in the House of Commons.
Alan Brown (MP for Kilmarnock) and Drew Hendry (MP for Inverness, Nairn and Strathspey) have been appointed in place of Calum McCaig, who lost his Aberdeenshire South seat in the Westminster election earlier this month.
Meanwhile, the Tories have appointed Ian Duncan – formerly the party’s sole Euro MP – as Deputy Scottish Office Minister.
He is being appointed as a member of the House of Lords to enable him to take up this post.
Duncan said: “This is a crucial time for Scotland, as we start our negotiations with the EU and look at how we bring powers back to the UK in a way which strengthens our economy.
“Having worked in Brussels for many years as an MEP, and previously as an EU advisor to the Scottish Parliament, I understand how important it is that we build a new partnership with the EU, while making sure that whole of the UK gets the best possible deal, especially around crucial issues for Scotland such as fisheries, agriculture and energy.”
He is a patron of LGB-Tory and lives in Edinburgh with his partner.
Meanwhile, the Queen’s speech today in Westminster will be closely watched by energy industry observers to see what – if anything – remains in the minority Tory government’s proposed legislative programme from their pre-election manifesto.