Newly elected Reform UK councillor David McLennan has declared that the “old parties are dead” after securing a decisive breakthrough victory in West Lothian.
Mr McLennan said the result showed voters across Scotland had finally “had enough of the ideological parties that came before” and were actively seeking something different.
The comments come after Reform UK has secured its first-ever electoral victory in Scotland, marking what the party feel is a breakthrough moment north of the border.
Mr McLennan claimed the Whitburn and Blackburn seat on West Lothian Council after Thursday’s by-election, garnering 1,177 first-preference votes under the single transferable vote system.
The SNP finished second with 1,028 votes, while Scottish Labour trailed in third place on just 627, a result that saw Reform nearly double Labour’s tally.
The Scottish Conservatives managed only 129 votes, with the Liberal Democrats on 102 and the Greens on 101.
The contest was triggered by the resignation of Davy Russell, who departed to take up his seat as MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.
Speaking to GB News after his victory, Mr McLennan said that he was “quietly confident” that he would win the election.
Mr McLennan said that he was “quietly confidant” that he would win the election.
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GB NEWS
GB News host Mark White said: “In terms of the trajectory here, your victory is clearly an important one.
“Do you think it genuinely heralds a turning of the corner, a sea change, and that we could now see many more breakthroughs for Reform as we move towards next May’s Scottish Parliament elections?
Mr McLennan responded: “I think the interesting thing from today’s numbers was Labour’s showing or lack of it.
“We won by a massive majority over Labour, which is a complete shift from last year. If that’s the direction we’re heading in for next May, Scottish Labour really do have something to worry about.”
It is a historic first for Nigel Farage
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GB NEWSHe added: “I think we took votes from all parties. There are people who may have voted SNP or Labour in the past simply because there wasn’t anyone else to vote for.
“But now we’re here, offering a common-sense, fair alternative, people aren’t scared to vote for the new guys on the block.”
Mark asked: “How does that translate when you’re up against seats held by the SNP?
“Nigel Farage has been clear that the ambition is to make major inroads next May with a view to taking power.
Mr McLennan explained: “I don’t know but I do know we defeated the SNP today. We defeated Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems and the Greens.
“It wasn’t me who won this; it was the people of West Lothian deciding they’ve had enough of the ideological parties that came before.”
The result comes as polling suggests Reform could emerge as one of Holyrood’s main opposition parties following May’s Scottish Parliament elections.
Graham Simpson, Reform UK’s sole MSP following his defection from the Scottish Conservatives over the summer, hailed the result as a watershed moment for the party.
“It is a historic result for Reform,” Simpson told The Scotsman. “This is our first victory in any election in Scotland and shows the trajectory and that we can win.”
He predicted strong performances in next year’s Holyrood contest, adding: “This is a great result and shows people are with us.”
McLennan himself only entered politics in March 2023 after reading the Reform manifesto.
“I was a Conservative voter, but I wasn’t involved in politics before,” he explained.
“I read the Reform manifesto and felt this party spoke to me in so many ways that I needed to get involved.”