Overview

• Simpson announced his move at a West Lothian press conference with Nigel Farage, becoming Reform’s first MSP under his leadership and the party’s second ever.
• He confirmed he will not resign the Central Scotland regional list seat he won as a Conservative, acknowledging unease but citing the rules that allow him to remain.
• Farage said Reform aims to be strong enough to remove the SNP from government after the 2026 election, insisted the party will not become 'Tory Party 2.0' and promised to be selective about further recruits.
• Reform will name a Scottish leader ahead of Holyrood 2026, with both men denying any backroom deal to install Simpson, who will work on a wider Scottish policy suite beyond net zero and immigration.
• The defection follows other recent exits from the Scottish Tories, and Simpson denied an unnamed claim from his former party that he had bullied a female staff member.