Political Spin: MP Graham Leadbitter

What was the first record that you ever bought?

I've got a couple of options. The first single was We Have A Dream by the Scotland World Cup squad in 1982. My first album was actually five albums because those of us of a certain age will remember the Britannia Music Club and the introductory offer was five for three. They were Queen’s Greatest Hits, Appetite for Destruction by Guns N’ Roses, Madonna’s The Immaculate Collection. Then there was Def Leppard’s Hysteria, and the fifth one was Bon Jovi’s New Jersey. It’s not a bad list for the first five albums that I got as a oner. That’s quite a list of classics.

Is there a record or a song that will always get you on the dance floor?

Any kind of ceilidh music for The Gay Gordons.

What is your karaoke song?

It’s The Gambler by Kenny Rogers.

What song do you want played at your funeral?

Hearts of Olden Glory by Runrig. I think I'd [also] probably have some rock songs, but I'd have that for going out.

What song or music is guaranteed to make you cry?

Same song. I've got a lot of family members and friends who have had the same song and it's always a tearjerker.

What music would you always associate with your childhood?

80’s rock. I've always liked rock and the bands that I got into were the likes of Queen, Bon Jovi, Meat Loaf, Def Leppard, that kind of thing. And when I was relatively young, when I was 10 or 11, I remember buying somebody's entire tape collection of every Iron Maiden album that had been produced up to that point. So yeah, I was really into rock, and still am.

What song was the first dance at your wedding?

It was Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton.

What record do you absolutely hate but can't get out of your head?

As soon as you said that I thought Kylie Minogue’s Can't Get You Out of My Head but that's not the one. I tend to live my life vicariously through music so when I hear a line or somebody says something that reminds me of a lyric, I’ve then got that buzzing around my head for ages. But there's loads of pop songs that just drive me mad and I'm not a big fan of modern R & B at all.

Is there a record you would be embarrassed to owning up to having in your collection?

The one song that I've got in my playlist, which I do think quite catchy, and it is a guilty pleasure, is Dua Lipa’s Dance The Night.

What was the last band you went to see and who with?

It was Iron Maiden at the London Stadium.

Is there a song that you associate with your political wins?

Well, I suppose with at all the political campaigns where I’ve been a candidate, at some point during the day it's always good fun to play Alice Cooper's Elected.