Tory leader accuses Reform defector of ‘act of treachery’

Russell Findlay has accused former Conservative MSP Graham Simpson of committing an “act of treachery” for defecting to Reform UK.

Simpson made the move over the summer, but told Holyrood that he still enjoyed good working relationships with most of his former colleagues.

However, he admitted there was one Conservative MSP who was “not even looking at me, let alone talking to me”. He refused to name that person.

Asked about the comment, the Scottish Conservative leader said Simpson was “clearly is a bit of a reformed snowflake”.

Findlay added: “This is the same politician who looked his colleagues in the eye and told them that he wasn’t going to defect, and then duly did so.

“So, perhaps, I can completely understand why colleagues wouldn’t want to engage with someone who has committed such an act of treachery.”

Simpson defected to Reform in August, announcing the decision in a joint press conference with his new party leader, Nigel Farage.

In doing so, he became Reform’s sole representative at Holyrood – though not the first, as former MSP Michelle Ballantyne briefly led the Scottish party while still serving as an MSP in the run-up to the 2021 election.

Simpson described the decision to leave the Conservatives as an “enormous wrench”, but said Reform offered an opportunity to “create something new, exciting and lasting”.

During his first major interview since his defection, Simpson admitted he had been worried about losing friendships – but this had not come to fruition.

He said: “I didn't expect them to be happy, but they kind of understood, and they've been nice to me, and my really close friends are still my close friends, so that's what matters.”

He added that even Findlay has spoken to him “properly and sensibly” and that “there's probably just one MSP who's just not even looking at me, let alone talking to me”.

The Reform MSP also said he would not make any attacks on individual political rivals. He said: “Look, there’s a difference between slagging off Reform, which you’d expect to happen in the run up to a Scottish Parliament election, and slagging off the individual.

“I’ve also been very clear that I won’t indulge in that kind of behaviour. I’m not going to get down and dirty and start attacking individuals for their character or personality, when it should be a debate about policy.”

Simpson was the third MSP to leave the Scottish Conservatives this year. Jamie Greene defected to the Liberal Democrats in April, while Jeremy Balfour opted to become an Independent in August.

Responding to Findlay's comments about Simpson, Greene said he had “nothing but name-calling left”. 

He said: “I may not agree with Graham Simpson on much politically these days but the Conservatives would be better off asking themselves why they are shedding members, voters and parliamentarians to both the centre and the right, rather than resorting to bully boy behaviour and playground insults.

“This country needs politicians to look for common ground but the Scottish Conservatives seem to have nothing but name-calling left.”