Nigel Farage has announced another Tory defection at a press conference in Scotland – it comes after a series of Tory big beasts switched to his party
A Scottish Conservative MSP has defected to Reform UK, Nigel Farage has announced at a press conference in Scotland.
Graham Simpson has become Reform’s first MSP with his defection, and he joined Mr Farage on stage in West Lothian.
The former Tory frontbencher was first elected to Holyrood in 2016. He said it had been a “wrench” to leave the party he joined at the age of 15.
Speaking during the Reform event in Broxburn, Mr Simpson said: “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.
“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 last year backed Murdo Fraser in the Scottish Conservative leadership election to succeed Douglas Ross. West Scotland MSP Russell Findlay instead won the contest.
Mr Simpson admitted he has been “uneasy” with his decision to defect from the Scottish Conservatives, 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.
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.”
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