'Disillusioned' councillor defects to Reform as mum continues to stand for Tories

An Argyll and Bute councillor has said that becoming “disillusioned” was behind his decision to leave the party his mother will run for in May’s Scottish Parliament election.

Councillor Daniel Hampsey, who represents the Dunoon ward, was revealed to have switched to Reform UK on Monday.

He left the Conservative Party, for whom his mother, Amanda, stands in Oban South and the Isles on the council. She is also the Conservative candidate for Argyll and Bute in this year’s Scottish Parliamentary election.

The Conservative group’s leader on Argyll and Bute Council said that he was “disappointed” but remained focused on the issues that matter to local residents.

Councillor Daniel Hampsey, who was first elected as a Conservative aged 18 in 2022, said: “I got involved in politics at a young age because I wanted to help fix the problems I could see in everyday life – a failing CalMac ferry service, roads full of potholes, and a health service that people increasingly struggle to rely on.

“Like many people across the country, I’ve become disillusioned over time by the failure of mainstream politics to deliver meaningful change. I feel the party I once supported left me, not the other way around.

“It has become clear to me that the traditional parties are, in practice, offering variations of the same approach. The policies may differ around the edges, but the fundamental issues facing our country remain unresolved.

“Power simply rotates – Labour for a period, the Conservatives before them, and the SNP now after 18 years in government – yet the underlying problems persist.

“I’ve reached the point where I can no longer pretend that this cycle of managed decline is acceptable. I believe politics should be about addressing root causes, not just managing symptoms or defending party brands.

“That is why I am confident that Reform UK – particularly under the leadership of Malcolm Offord in Scotland – offers the only serious opportunity to challenge the complacency that has set in across our political system.

“I believe Reform is prepared to question the assumptions that other parties now take for granted and to pursue the structural changes needed to get our country moving in the right direction again.

“My focus remains the same as it has always been: improving services, fixing infrastructure, and making sure ordinary people see real, practical improvements in their daily lives. This decision is about being able to pursue those goals more effectively.”

Councillor Peter Wallace (Isle of Bute), the Conservative group’s leader on Argyll and Bute Council, said: “I am obviously disappointed to lose Daniel from the party.

“Our group, however, remain fully focused on the issues that matter to people across Argyll and Bute, and the Scottish Conservatives will always stand up to the SNP’s relentless push to break up the UK.

“We understand many people are disillusioned with politics and politicians, which is why we’re focused on fighting for a better deal for our rural communities, growing the economy and standing up for all those who just want some common sense for a change.”

Councillor Amanda Hampsey has been contacted for comment. The other confirmed candidates for Argyll and Bute in May’s Scottish Parliament election are, in alphabetical order, Callum George (Labour), Jenni Minto (SNP), Fiona Nelson (Independence for Scotland Party) and Alan Reid (Liberal Democrat).