Reform MSP hints at post-election pact to oust SNP from power at Holyrood

Scotland’s only Reform MSP has insisted it is “not beyond the realms of possibility” his party could team up with others to force the SNP out of office after May’s Holyrood election.

Graham Simpson added that there is a “definite possibility” Nigel Farage’s party could have “around 20 MSPs” after that ballot.

It comes as polls have suggested that Reform UK – who gained their first MSP when Simpson defected from the Tories in August 2025 – could become the second-largest party at Holyrood after John Swinney’s SNP.

Simpson, who has been an MSP since 2016, said Reform coming in second place was both “feasible” and “achievable”, adding that opinion polls are “very consistent” in suggesting this.

Speaking to the Press Association, the MSP said: “There is a definite possibility we could get around 20 MSPs, maybe more, maybe slightly under that.

“But I think around that number would be good and that could put us into second position.”

Asked if such an outcome could see Reform UK work with other parties, including his former colleagues in the Scottish Conservatives to remove the SNP from power, Simpson stressed what might happen would depend on the election results.

But pressed on the prospect of Reform joining forces with other parties, he said: “That is a scenario. I’m not saying it would happen, it depends on the numbers.

“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?

“The only way you do it is by working together. And Reform are serious to getting the SNP out of government.

“Now Reform aren’t going to form a majority but a majority could be formed with other people, or there could be some arrangement.”

The Central Scotland MSP continued: “It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that could happen.

“But it will all depend on the numbers.”

His comments came as he insisted his former party is now “largely irrelevant” and will likely “do badly” in the May election, with Simpson saying: “They are going to be also-rans.”

He added: “I think they are going to lose the vast majority of their members.”

Speaking about the Conservatives, he added they would likely have sufficient MSPs to be part of any post-election cross-party discussions, but Simpson said they would “need to be sensible about those discussions and not rule anything out, if they, like we, want to get rid of the SNP”.

With the MSP currently working on Reform UK’s manifesto for the Holyrood election he said the party was “going to come up with policies that are the best thing for Scotland”.

Reform’s critics have accused the party of not having Scottish policies, but Simpson said in drawing up the manifesto he was considering all devolved policy areas and “essentially looking at how do we improve the lives of people in Scotland”.

He added: “Health is going to be a big one. That’s what people are most bothered about in Scotland, health. Cost of living, immigration, people are concerned about that so we will include that. That will be in our manifesto, but largely it will be about the devolved areas.”

He also insisted he is “so happy it is unbelievable” after quitting the Tories and joining Reform UK.

“My wife says she has never seen me laugh so much in years,” the MSP added, declaring the switch had been “a great move for me”.

He dismissed suggestions he had left the Conservatives – whose support has fallen in the polls – to boost his chances of being retuned to the Scottish Parliament.

Simpson said: “I don’t know if I will get elected, lots of things could happen. I didn’t do it for that reason.

“If I get elected, great, I love my job, but I didn’t do it for that reason.”