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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| MSP Jeremy Balfour resigns from Conservatives | MSP Jeremy Balfour resigns from Conservatives |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Balfour said quitting the party was one of the hardest political decisions he has had to make in his life | |
| Scottish Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour has quit the party saying it has "fallen into the trap of reactionary politics" under Russell Findlay's leadership. | Scottish Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour has quit the party saying it has "fallen into the trap of reactionary politics" under Russell Findlay's leadership. |
| Balfour, who was the Tory spokesperson on social justice, said he would sit as an independent until the Holyrood election in May. | Balfour, who was the Tory spokesperson on social justice, said he would sit as an independent until the Holyrood election in May. |
| In his resignation letter, the Lothians MSP said: "Increasingly, decisions seem to be made by advisers who lack experience, while senior MSP colleagues are ignored." | In his resignation letter, the Lothians MSP said: "Increasingly, decisions seem to be made by advisers who lack experience, while senior MSP colleagues are ignored." |
| The Scottish Conservatives said they were "disappointed" by Balfour's comments, but wished him well. | The Scottish Conservatives said they were "disappointed" by Balfour's comments, but wished him well. |
| Balfour's resignation leaves the party with 29 MSPs. | Balfour's resignation leaves the party with 29 MSPs. |
| He is the second MSP to leave since the Tories lost power at Westminster and Findlay became Scottish leader in September last year. | He is the second MSP to leave since the Tories lost power at Westminster and Findlay became Scottish leader in September last year. |
| West of Scotland MSP Jamie Greene defected from the Tories to the Liberal Democrats in April. | West of Scotland MSP Jamie Greene defected from the Tories to the Liberal Democrats in April. |
| Russell Findlay was elected leader of the Scottish Conservative in September last year | Russell Findlay was elected leader of the Scottish Conservative in September last year |
| Findlay took over as leader after a fractious internal contest left some lasting divisions. | Findlay took over as leader after a fractious internal contest left some lasting divisions. |
| Opinion polls suggest the Tories are under huge pressure ahead of next year's Holyrood election. | Opinion polls suggest the Tories are under huge pressure ahead of next year's Holyrood election. |
| Findlay has promised to offer tax and spending cuts at the 2026 Holyrood election, saying he would "wield a claymore" on wasteful spending if elected. | Findlay has promised to offer tax and spending cuts at the 2026 Holyrood election, saying he would "wield a claymore" on wasteful spending if elected. |
| Balfour said he did not believe the party was interested in tackling welfare reform "beyond blind slashing of budgets" which he said "will put those in most need at highest risk". | Balfour said he did not believe the party was interested in tackling welfare reform "beyond blind slashing of budgets" which he said "will put those in most need at highest risk". |
| In his resignation letter, seen by BBC Scotland News, the MSP also accused the party of focusing on rural areas "at the expense of our cities". | In his resignation letter, seen by BBC Scotland News, the MSP also accused the party of focusing on rural areas "at the expense of our cities". |
| He said: "I fear that the Scottish Conservatives have fallen into the trap of reactionary politics, where a positive, proactive agenda for real change has been rejected in favour of allowing policies to be dictated by what other parties are saying and chasing cheap headlines." | He said: "I fear that the Scottish Conservatives have fallen into the trap of reactionary politics, where a positive, proactive agenda for real change has been rejected in favour of allowing policies to be dictated by what other parties are saying and chasing cheap headlines." |
| Jamie Greene (centre) defected to the Scottish Liberal Democrats in April | Jamie Greene (centre) defected to the Scottish Liberal Democrats in April |
| Balfour, who had been a member of the party for about 40 years, was first elected on the Lothian regional list in 2016. | Balfour, who had been a member of the party for about 40 years, was first elected on the Lothian regional list in 2016. |
| He previously worked as a solicitor and Baptist minister. | He previously worked as a solicitor and Baptist minister. |
| The MSP had several stints as a Conservative deputy spokesperson, including on equalities, housing and welfare. | The MSP had several stints as a Conservative deputy spokesperson, including on equalities, housing and welfare. |
| However, he has been on the backbenches since Findlay became leader in September last year, after backing his leadership rival Meghan Gallacher. | However, he has been on the backbenches since Findlay became leader in September last year, after backing his leadership rival Meghan Gallacher. |
| Born with no left arm and a right arm that ends at the elbow, Balfour has been vocal proponent for disabled rights. | Born with no left arm and a right arm that ends at the elbow, Balfour has been vocal proponent for disabled rights. |
| Earlier this year he opposed assisted dying legislation, citing concerns for disabled people as well as his Christian faith. | Earlier this year he opposed assisted dying legislation, citing concerns for disabled people as well as his Christian faith. |
| 'Grabbing headlines' | 'Grabbing headlines' |
| In his resignation letter Balfour said vulnerable and disabled people were "not going to be taken seriously" under new Tory policies. | In his resignation letter Balfour said vulnerable and disabled people were "not going to be taken seriously" under new Tory policies. |
| He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I think too many people are coming in, are drafting policies who don't really understand the issues. | He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I think too many people are coming in, are drafting policies who don't really understand the issues. |
| "We know that social security budget needs to be looked at, but the leadership has just taken the view of 'let's just cut benefits', without looking at what those benefits do - what effect that will have on employment, what effect it will have on individuals. | "We know that social security budget needs to be looked at, but the leadership has just taken the view of 'let's just cut benefits', without looking at what those benefits do - what effect that will have on employment, what effect it will have on individuals. |
| "It was a very easy headline to be grabbed, But the work below that has not been done and the work that I and others have done, has just been ignored." | "It was a very easy headline to be grabbed, But the work below that has not been done and the work that I and others have done, has just been ignored." |
| Balfour said he was yet to decide whether to stand as an independent in next year's Scottish Parliament elections, but ruled out representing the Reform party. | Balfour said he was yet to decide whether to stand as an independent in next year's Scottish Parliament elections, but ruled out representing the Reform party. |
| He said some of his colleagues would be "sympathetic" to his decision and accused Findlay of "not grasping" the Scottish Conservative vision. | He said some of his colleagues would be "sympathetic" to his decision and accused Findlay of "not grasping" the Scottish Conservative vision. |
| "It's the Conservatives who have moved, not me," he added. | "It's the Conservatives who have moved, not me," he added. |
| Jeremy Balfour has been MSP for Lothian since 2016 | |
| The Scottish Conservatives said they were disappointed by his resignation letter, but were "grateful for Jeremy's service and wish him well". | The Scottish Conservatives said they were disappointed by his resignation letter, but were "grateful for Jeremy's service and wish him well". |
| A spokesperson added: "The Scottish Conservatives, under Russell Findlay's leadership, recognise that many people feel completely disconnected from politics. | A spokesperson added: "The Scottish Conservatives, under Russell Findlay's leadership, recognise that many people feel completely disconnected from politics. |
| "It is absolutely critical that our party continues to champion common-sense Conservative values and policies that focus on the issues of concern to hard-working Scots." | "It is absolutely critical that our party continues to champion common-sense Conservative values and policies that focus on the issues of concern to hard-working Scots." |
| Balfour's former Scottish Conservative colleague, Stephen Kerr MSP, said he had served the party with "integrity and dedication". | Balfour's former Scottish Conservative colleague, Stephen Kerr MSP, said he had served the party with "integrity and dedication". |
| He added: "His work for the most vulnerable has been an inspiration, and he will be much missed by his colleagues." | He added: "His work for the most vulnerable has been an inspiration, and he will be much missed by his colleagues." |
| Fellow MSP Liz Smith said : "He was a wonderful colleague - thoughtful and caring and he continues to be an outstanding ambassador for disability groups." | Fellow MSP Liz Smith said : "He was a wonderful colleague - thoughtful and caring and he continues to be an outstanding ambassador for disability groups." |
| Reform breakthrough | Reform breakthrough |
| Balfour's resignation comes as the Conservatives have seen several councillors defect to Reform. | Balfour's resignation comes as the Conservatives have seen several councillors defect to Reform. |
| In the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election in June they slipped into fourth place behind Nigel Farage's party. | In the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election in June they slipped into fourth place behind Nigel Farage's party. |
| Poll suggest Reform could make an electoral breakthrough at next year's Holyrood election. | Poll suggest Reform could make an electoral breakthrough at next year's Holyrood election. |
| That challenge from the political right seems to have impacted how Findlay is positioning his party. | That challenge from the political right seems to have impacted how Findlay is positioning his party. |
| He has prioritised plans to cut what he considers wasteful public spending and to ease the transition to net zero carbon emissions. | He has prioritised plans to cut what he considers wasteful public spending and to ease the transition to net zero carbon emissions. |
| What he has not done is take all of his Holyrood colleagues with him and in losing MSPs he risks losing some authority too. | What he has not done is take all of his Holyrood colleagues with him and in losing MSPs he risks losing some authority too. |