Tory MSP Jamie Greene quits party over 'Reform-lite agenda'

Tory MSP Jamie Greene has quit the Conservative party group at Holyrood over its “Reform-lite agenda” and “Trump-esque narrative”.

Greene said the Scottish Conservative party he joined in years past “simply no longer exists”.

The West Scotland region MSP warned that the party is “deserting the middle ground” in an effort to “chase the votes of Reform Party supporters” and “fringe right-wing” Scottish voters.

“The party now rests its hopes on a Reform-lite agenda that appeals to the worst of our society, and not the best,” Greene said.

He has been a Tory MSP for West Scotland since 2016, but he resigned from the party with immediate effect on Thursday morning.

“I cannot be part of a narrative which has become Trump-esque in both style and substance,” Greene said.

“Instead of proudly leading on equality, we now run the very serious and immediate risk of becoming once again the party of social division and morality wars.”

Greene said the decision has “weighed heavily” on his mind and hopes and wishes the party no ill will.

However, he said the Tory party he joined years ago “made a young, working class, gay man from Greenock feel very welcome”.

He said that instead of “proudly leading on equality”, the party now runs the “very serious and immediate risk” of becoming the party of “social division and morality wars”.

Greene has previously advocated for Victims Bill proposals and justice reform as well as the Redress Scheme for survivors of abuse and supporting local drug and alcohol services and education reform.

He previously held roles as the Scottish Conservative’s transport, education and justice spokesperson.

In response, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said Greene’s departure was “disappointing”, and he wished his colleague well.

However, Findlay said he promised to take the Tory party in a new direction when he was elected and believes he is keeping those promises.

“I promised change and I keep my promises, so I will keep standing up for the common-sense values of mainstream Scotland and opposing the damage caused by Holyrood’s left-wing consensus,” Findlay said.

“I’ll continue taking a strong stance against the SNP on tax, gender self-identification, and the damage they’ve done to Scotland’s schools.

“Others may believe it’s best to let the SNP have their way. I will always oppose their dangerous agenda and put forward a proud conservative vision of a different Scotland.”