Could the Scottish Tories do a deal with Reform?
It is the fear of an electoral wipeout next year – and projections that suggest Reform will pick up around 15 seats from a standing start – that has prompted senior Tories to float the idea of an electoral pact with Nigel Farage's Scottish outfit. As reported in the Telegraph, party figures have suggested a deal could help avoid splitting the vote on the right and oust the SNP from government.
The idea at present would involve the Tories avoiding standing candidates in areas where Reform is projected to do well and vice versa. It comes after 14 Tory councillors defected to the Farage‑run group ahead of next year's Holyrood election, and both the Conservatives and Reform UK expect that a sitting Tory MSP could switch sides. Some Scottish Tories have dismissed switchers as being ambitious and seeing an easy way into Holyrood via Reform, while Farage's Scottish organisers have suggested that the party could introduce a deadline for defectors to stop opportunistic politicos taking advantage of Reform's surge.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay is against the idea of a pact – and so is Nigel Farage. The Reform leader told the Telegraph: 'No chance. The Tories are dying in Scotland and I've got no desire to do a deal with them whatsoever.' His Scottish team echoed the sentiment, with a senior party source telling me: 'Why would we stand down in areas we'll win?' They added that no Scottish Tories have approached Reform with the strategy and reiterated that the party will stand candidates in all 73 constituencies as well as on the regional list. They concluded: 'There's absolutely nothing in it. They're at it.'
The SNP is the only party to have published its candidate list for the 2026 election – featuring a mix of former MPs, current MSPs and a number of younger councillors. Scottish Labour and the Conservatives have not finalised their lists yet, while Reform UK is vetting candidates and conducting parliamentary assessment meetings with the help of its London team. After this, a committee will approve applicants before branches select candidates for 2026. A full finalised list is expected early next year. The Scottish Conservatives will be hoping no more councillors – or MSPs – defect before then.
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