Conservative Glasgow councillor defects to Reform

Another Scottish Conservative councillor has defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.

Thomas Kerr, who represents the Shettleston ward on Glasgow City Council, is the latest and highest-profile member of the Tory party to make the move.

It comes after several councillors in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire defected to Reform in recent months.

Mr Kerr made headlines in 2017 when he was elected to Glasgow City Council aged just 20, saying at the time: “When you stand as a Conservative candidate in the east end of Glasgow, you never expect to win.”

Announcing his defection, the former leader of the Glasgow Tory group 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.”

Reform said the defection is not just a win for the party, but “a significant moment in Scotland’s political landscape”.

The party said in a statement: “His decision to join Reform UK is a clear signal of his commitment to true change and practical solutions for Scotland, particularly in the crucial areas of addiction recovery and support for families affected by substance use.

“It is a privilege to welcome Thomas to Reform UK.

“His passion for his community and his relentless drive to bring about change are already well known.

“His personal journey gives him a unique understanding of the struggles that many families across Scotland face, and I have no doubt that his leadership will help shape a future where recovery and support are at the heart of our policy agenda.”

The party said the move represents an “exciting chapter for Reform as we continue to build momentum across Scotland”.

It added: “Kerr’s joining our party is a sign of the growing demand for real, practical change, change that delivers real solutions for the people of Scotland.”

A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: “We wish Thomas well.”

The announcement comes after a poll on Wednesday put the Tories and Reform neck-and-neck at Holyrood.

The Survation poll for the Holyrood Sources podcast and True North Advisors put both parties in joint third place on 15 seats each.

The survey put the SNP on 53 seats, ahead of second-placed Labour on 24, while the Liberal Democrats were on 12 and the Greens 10.

Mr Farage’s party won more than four million votes at the general election, with five MPs elected to Westminster.