Ex-Labour councillor joins Reform UK after selection row

A former Labour councillor has joined Reform UK one year after quitting Anas Sarwar’s party over a selection battle.

Fife councillor Julie MacDougall said she had “lost faith in the Labour Party” after Melanie Ward was selected as its candidate for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy in last year’s general election.

At the time, MacDougall said she did not believe the party – which her father John MacDougall represented at Westminster – was “practicing what it preaches” or “upholding its core values”.

She said candidates were “being imposed on members and constituents in a non-democratic, autocratic manner” and has since sat as an independent councillor.

Now she has joined Reform UK in pursuit of “authentic, grown-up, honest politics”.

In a video posted to social media, MacDougall said the decision had taken a lot of “soul-searching” and she can “only do so much as an independent councillor”. She said: “I know that my values are truly more aligned to this party than any other.”

MacDougall, whose father was an ally of Gordon Brown, stated: “Over a year ago I resigned from the Labour Party because I was disillusioned and disappointed. I must say I made the right decision as things have only gotten worse. Despite the challenges and consequences, I remained steadfast and dedicated to the public by carrying on my role as an independent councillor for my ward area, continuing to serve our communities with my full commitment.

“I want to be part of more authentic, grown-up, honest politics with a commonsense approach – without all the rhetoric nonsense – and deliver the best for the people of Fife. Our country is broken and real change is now needed, moving away from the parties who’ve had their opportunity to fix things.”

MacDougall cited illegal migration, the NHS and the management of public resources as key issues.

Welcoming MacDougall, who represents Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy, Reform UK called her a “fantastic local champion and a great addition to Team Reform”.

The move leaves only one independent councillor on Labour-run Fife Council and makes MacDougall its sole Reform representative.

Her MP father was also a councillor for Burntisland and led the local authority before winning the Glenrothes seat at Westminster.  A close friend to Brown, he died of mesothelioma in 2008.