Glasgow Councillor Thomas Kerr has defected from the Scottish Tories to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. He is the fifth Conservative councillor to jump ship to the right wing outfit – a major blow for Scottish party leader Russell Findlay. Kerr represents the Shettleston ward on the city council.
It comes as a new poll found Reform in line to return 15 MSPs at the Holyrood election, tied with the Conservatives. Findlay has moved the Scottish Tories to the Right since succeeding Douglas Ross, but they continue to lose votes to Reform.
The new poll showed Farage’s anti-immigration party could be the kingmakers after the Holyrood election. A narrow pro-UK majority was projected but Labour would need Reform votes for leader Anas Sarwar to become First Minister.
Kerr said: “Joining Reform UK is a significant turning point for me. My own experiences with addiction, losing my father and watching my mother recover, have shaped my desire to make real, lasting change. I am committed to ensuring that every person in Scotland who is struggling with addiction has access to the support and recovery services they need to rebuild their lives. Reform UK represents the change our communities desperately need, and I’m excited to continue my work for Shettleston with this dynamic new party.”
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