The Reformer – here to support the reform Scotland needs

SCOTLAND needs Reform. How can anyone say anything different?

There are two ways to look at it. At the very least, Scotland needs a new party to shake Holyrood to the core of its disconnected complacency. Reform can do that by attracting voters from the three previously dominant parties.

There are former SNP supporters now backing Reform because they recognise that the SNP leadership is not only incompetent and damaging Scotland’s economic and social fabric, but has also run out of ideas. Under the leadership of Sturgeon, Yousaf and the ever-present Swinney, the SNP has become the problem and offers no solutions.

Swinney’s involvement as Deputy First Minister, Finance Secretary, Education Secretary and of course the Covid Recovery Minister — who deleted his WhatsApp messages — and later First Minister leaves him complicit and bearing more responsibility for every policy disaster and questionable behaviour than anyone other than the divisive Sturgeon.

It is so obviously the other cheek of the same ugly collectivist face that has run Holyrood for the past 27 years

Reform is taking votes from the official opposition of the Scottish Conservatives, by exposing the party for its failure to show the courage necessary to take on the main issues that concern voters — not least by recognising that immigration is a massive issue in Scotland just as it is in the rest of the UK.

The Tories’ timid approach to challenging Scotland’s high taxes is clear. While they criticise them, they never offer a path to reducing them. By stating the ambition of slashing Scotland’s higher income taxes, Malcolm Offord has exposed the Scottish Conservatives for being far too comfortable in opposition. They cannot and will not ever deliver change at Holyrood because they lack the ambition and the guile to deliver it.

By comparison, Reform is presenting an economic plan that would revive the Scottish economy and attract back to Scotland many of the talented people who have left for more attractive rewards elsewhere. Some 40,000 people leave Scotland every year for other parts of the UK or overseas. That’s a scandalous figure that the MSPs at Holyrood should be ashamed of.

Labour is losing votes to Reform too. Why? Because it is so obviously the other cheek of the same ugly collectivist face that has run Holyrood for the past 27 years. When the latest SNP budget was proposed, it did not seek to oppose it. Labour might find small details here and there to disagree on with the SNP, but in principle it has backed its policies on the economy, justice, housing, transport, benefits and health – and most notoriously, gender re-assignment.

The failure of Holyrood is best evidenced by its failure to tackle effectively the scandalous level of drug-related deaths in Scotland – a situation the SNP and the unelected quangos which it bankrolls have presided over.

A legion of Reform MSPs can change the Scottish Parliament by making its decisions better reflect what the Scottish people have been crying out for – a vibrant economy that provides opportunities and jobs through investment and rewards; public services in health, education, housing and social care that are customer-centred; a transport system that works; a legal system that dispenses justice; and the rejuvenation of our towns and cities.

But bringing change to the Scottish Parliament’s “we know better” arrogance is not enough. Scotland and, indeed, the whole of the UK needs positive change that runs beyond Holyrood, through our communities and endures. That requires not just opposition to those who have broken so many promises, damaged our public services and broken our economy – we need a party that will be in government to deliver the necessary change.

That requires not just leaders with the political will, competence and drive to deliver reform; it also requires policies, messages and arguments capable of winning over voters and turning ideas into reforms.

Despite regular support in the polls of over 20% in Scotland, there is, as yet, no media platform openly backing Reform. In launching The Reformer the existing non-party platform of ThinkScotland.org is seeking to create a new home for Reform supporters. With a new platform to share their thoughts, experiences, reactions – and their creative, practical proposals – Reform UK can be in a stronger position to succeed and deliver the change many believe Scotland needs.