Scotland’s sole Reform UK representative at Holyrood has hinted that Nigel Farage could team up with others to force the SNP out of office come May’s elections.
Graham Simpson, who switched from the Conservatives to Reform UK back in August 2025, told the Press Association there is a “definite possibility” of securing around 20 seats when voters head to the polls in May.
“But I think around that number would be good and that could put us into second position,” Mr Simpson added.
The Central Scotland MSP, who has represented his constituency since 2016, described finishing as runners-up to John Swinney’s SNP as both “feasible” and “achievable.”
Recent polling has been consistently pointing in that direction, he added.
When asked whether Reform might join forces with other parties – including his old Tory colleagues – to boot the SNP out of office, Mr Simpson kept his options open.
“That is a scenario. I’m not saying it would happen, it depends on the numbers,” he explained.
“But if people are going into this election seriously wanting the SNP out of government, then they have to think, how do we do that?”
Scotland’s sole Reform UK representative, Graham Simpson, has hinted that they could team up with others to force the SNP out of office come May’s elections
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For Mr Simpson, the answer is straightforward: collaboration.
“The only way you do it is by working together. And Reform are serious to getting the SNP out of government,” he said.
“Now, Reform aren’t going to form a majority but a majority could be formed with other people, or there could be some arrangement.”
He stressed that while such a scenario is not impossible, everything hinges on how Scots vote.
Mr Simpson was not shy about his former party’s prospects either, branding the Scottish Conservatives “largely irrelevant” and predicting Kemi Baenoch will “do badly” come May.
“They are going to be also-rans,” he said, adding that he expects them to shed most of their members.
He also acknowledged the Tories would likely retain enough MSPs to participate in any post-election talks – provided they’re willing to be “sensible” about discussions.
However, Scottish Labour has firmly shut the door on any partnership with Reform, however.
Deputy leader Jackie Baillie did not mince her words when dismissing the idea of working with Mr Farage’s party.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said, ‘Scottish Labour has been absolutely clear that we are not interested in any coalitions or deals and certainly not with Reform’
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“Scottish Labour has been absolutely clear that we are not interested in any coalitions or deals and certainly not with Reform,” she declared.
Ms Baillie went further, launching a blistering attack on the party’s motives.
“Reform don’t want to improve our country – they simply want to exploit people’s frustrations for political gain and use the SNP’s failures to divide communities,” she said.
“This party of undercover Tories and self-interested con artists are not capable of getting rid of the SNP and not interested in fixing Scotland’s problems.”
For Ms Baillie, the only route to ousting the SNPs is voting Labour.
As for Reform’s own platform, Mr Simpson is currently drafting the manifesto with a focus on devolved matters.
“Health is going to be a big one. That’s what people are most bothered about in Scotland,” he noted, alongside cost of living and immigration concerns.
The SNP hit back, with a spokeswoman accusing other parties of pandering to Reform’s “divisive politics.”