We misjudged the drift to Reform party among our voters, admits Scottish Conservative MSP

SUMMARY

Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden admitted the party misjudged the drift of their voters to Nigel Farage's Reform party. Reform secured a larger share of votes than the Conservatives in 23 Scottish seats, including key strongholds. Douglas Ross’s defeat in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East was attributed to this shift. The Reform party's focus on immigration and Brexit issues resonated with voters, particularly in rural areas. Lumsden acknowledged the need to win back voters from Reform to prevent further losses in future elections, emphasizing a strategy to reconnect with their 2019 voter base without shifting further to the right.