Two former Tory councillors defect to Reform UK

Two former Tory councillors in Aberdeenshire have defected to Reform UK, the party said.

Mark Findlater, a former leader of Aberdeenshire Council, and Laurie Carnie have become the first to represent Nigel Farage’s party north of the border having recently left the Tories.

Mr Findlater left the Scottish Tories earlier this year, but did not publicly speak about his reasoning, while Ms Carnie also left the party’s group on the council this month.

The move comes as leader Mr Farage issued a call for Tory councillors to quit and join his party.

Reform UK regional organiser Martyn Greene said this was “just the start” for the party, which saw its best showing in Scotland in the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat at the election earlier this year.

He added that the moves show “the Tory brand is broken not just in England but across the United Kingdom”.

“Scotland has been failed by Labour and the SNP for decades and the Scottish Tories have been utterly dismal in their opposition,” Mr Greene said.

“This is just the start for Reform, we plan to campaign hard in the run-up to the Holyrood election in 2026 and win seats right across Scotland.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Tories said: “We are focused on holding the failing SNP and Labour governments to account.”