Reform UK got its first MSP at Holyrood today after Graham Simpson announced his defection from the Scottish Tories to Nigel Farage’s party.
Mr Simpson, who has been an MSP for Central Scotland since 2016, revealed his switch to Reform at a press conference in Broxburn, West Lothian alongside Mr Farage.
The 61-year-old said many of his former Conservative colleagues would ‘understand’ his decision, adding there was a need for ‘fresh thinking’ in Scottish politics.
He insisted Reform, which has seen a surge in popularity in Scotland since last year’s general election, could ‘help’ topple the SNP after 19 years in power in Edinburgh.
Mr Simpson, who previously sat on the Tory front bench in the Scottish Parliament, admitted he had been ‘uneasy’ with his decision to defect given he was elected on the regional list at Holyrood.
At Holyrood, voters elect MSPs to both constituencies and regional lists, with votes in the regions being cast for a party rather than an individual.
But he said he would not step down as an MSP as he stressed he still has work to do in the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Farage added there had been no ‘backroom deal’ to install Mr Simpson as Reform’s leader in Scotland.
Mr Simpson’s defection is another huge boost to Reform ahead of next year’s Holyrood elections, in which Mr Farage hopes his party will win a slew of seats.
It is also the latest blow for Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay, who has now lost three MSPs in the first year of his leadership.
Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, announced last week he was leaving the party to sit as an independent.
Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, had previously defected from the Scottish Tories to the Liberal Democrats in protest at Mr Findlay’s leadership.
Last month, an Ipsos survey found the SNP remained in pole position ahead of next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.
The poll showed the SNP on 34 per cent of the constituency vote, ahead of Labour (23 per cent) and Reform (14 per cent).
The same three parties topped regional list voting intentions, with the SNP on 26 per cent, Labour on 22 per cent and Reform on 16 per cent.
Speaking on Wednesday morning of his decision to leave the Conservative Party, which he joined at the age of 15, Mr Simpson admitted it was a ‘wrench’.
‘It’s fair to say that some of you won’t be surprised to see me here, given that the Scottish Tories have been touting my name as a potential defector for months now,’ he said.
‘So today, I’m giving them what they want, but perhaps not for the reasons that they think.
‘Leaving the party that I first joined when I was 15 is an enormous wrench, and I’ve been through a lot of soul searching in the past few weeks.’
Mr Simpson said he had decided earlier this year not to stand again for the Scottish Tories, but it was not until the past few weeks he had chosen to move to Reform.
‘I watched Reform with interest and I see the opportunity to help create something fresh here in Scotland, and it’s clear that the voters agree in increasing numbers,’ he told the press conference.
‘But just because a party is becoming popular isn’t a reason to join it, keeping your job in Parliament isn’t a good enough reason either.’
He added: ‘Too many people feel let down and ignored, they feel the system is against them, that the traditional parties don’t even care about them.
‘Save for some fine individual MSPs across parties, the political class is not serving the people well. Failure is accepted and change takes far too long.’
Mr Simpson said he decided to join Reform to ‘create something new, exciting and lasting’.
Put to him that Central Scotland region voters backed the Tories rather than him personally, Mr Simpson said: ‘Absolutely, you’re right.
‘I was elected on the Conservative list, that’s why I’ve been uneasy with this decision. I am uneasy with it, but the rules say that you can stay.’