On August 22, 2025, Scottish politics was rocked by the resignation of Jeremy Balfour, a long-serving Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Lothian region, from the Scottish Conservative Party. Balfour, who had been a Tory for over three decades and served as the party’s spokesperson on social justice, announced he would sit as an independent until the next Holyrood election in May 2026. His departure comes amid mounting internal tensions and a shifting political landscape that has left the Conservatives under pressure from both traditional rivals and insurgent parties.
Balfour’s resignation letter, seen by several outlets including BBC Scotland News and The Irish News, was a sharply worded critique of the party’s current direction under leader Russell Findlay. He accused the leadership of abandoning a “positive, proactive agenda for real change” in favor of “reactionary politics” and “chasing cheap headlines.” Balfour wrote, “Increasingly, decisions seem to be made by advisers who lack experience, while senior MSP colleagues are ignored.” He added, “I no longer feel that the party has a positive platform to offer the people of Scotland.”
Speaking on BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland, Balfour elaborated on his concerns. “I think too many people are coming in, are drafting policies who don’t really understand the issues and senior colleagues are being ignored,” he said. He criticized the leadership’s approach to welfare reform, describing it as “just cut benefits” without consideration of the broader impacts. “It was a very easy headline to be grabbed, but the work below that has not been done and the work that I and others have done has just been ignored.”
The former social justice spokesperson’s critique didn’t end there. Balfour expressed deep frustration that the party’s focus on rural areas was coming “at the expense of our cities,” particularly Edinburgh and the Lothians—his own constituency. He argued that the needs of urban Scotland were being sidelined and said, “I think the Lothians have been ignored often, so we need a strong voice for the Lothians.” Balfour, who has lived with disabilities from birth, also warned that “there is a real danger these individuals are going to face big cuts that will have a real impact on their lives.”
His resignation marked the second high-profile defection from the Scottish Conservatives in recent months. Jamie Greene, MSP for the West of Scotland, quit the party in April to join the Liberal Democrats, accusing the Tories of becoming “Trump-esque in both style and substance.” Greene commented after Balfour’s departure, “I was clear back in April when I quit the Tories that it was a most unhappy of ships and others would follow my exit. One wonders how many more former colleagues will come to their senses and quit.”
Balfour’s decision also comes as the Scottish Conservatives face significant challenges ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election. The party recently slipped to fourth place behind Reform UK in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, signaling a possible shift in the political winds. Polls suggest Nigel Farage’s Reform party could make further inroads, with several Conservative councillors already defecting. Dr. Alan Convery, a senior lecturer in politics at the University of Edinburgh, told The Edinburgh Reporter, “This resignation reflects wider dilemmas for how the Scottish Conservatives should position themselves when the independence referendum question is off the agenda and they face a serious challenge from Reform.”
Russell Findlay, who took over as leader after a fractious internal contest, has promised tax and spending cuts at the 2026 election and vowed to “wield a claymore” on wasteful public spending. However, Balfour’s departure highlights a growing sense of unease among senior Tories about the party’s direction and strategy. In his letter, Balfour lamented, “Our commitment to universal payments across portfolios, which often benefit those who don’t need it, instead of targeted support for the most vulnerable will only feed the already spiralling budget predicament.” He added, “I do not believe that the Party is interested in tackling this issue beyond blind slashing of budgets which will put those in most need at highest risk.”
Balfour was clear that his disagreement was not personal. “I get on very well as an individual with Russell, I think he’s a good individual. Whether he’s the person to lead the Scottish Conservatives is obviously for MSPs, for the membership, to decide. But he is an individual I like, I just think he’s just not quite yet grasped what the issues are and is willing to put forward a vision which is truly Conservative.”
Despite his criticisms, Balfour described himself as a “natural Conservative,” saying, “It’s the party that’s moved, not me.” He has not ruled out standing as an independent in the next election but has ruled out joining Reform or any other party. “I’m not sure any party is actually offering that at the moment but whether I stand or not I’ll come to a view in the next few weeks.”
Reactions from across the political spectrum have been swift and pointed. SNP MSP George Adam called Findlay’s leadership “disastrous,” claiming, “it’s clear the Tories are in freefall in Scotland as we approach the 2026 election.” Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie added, “When even a social conservative like Jeremy Balfour is saying you are too reactionary, it is time to reconsider your politics.”
The Scottish Conservatives, for their part, issued a statement expressing disappointment but gratitude for Balfour’s service. “It is absolutely critical that our party continues to champion common-sense Conservative values and policies that focus on the issues of concern to hard-working Scots,” a spokesperson said. “All our members and supporters expect us to work hard to deliver the change that Scotland needs after 18 years of damaging and divisive SNP rule.”
Balfour’s political journey has been shaped by his commitment to social justice and advocacy for disabled rights. Before entering Holyrood in 2016, he served as a councillor in Edinburgh and worked as a solicitor and Baptist minister. Earlier this year, he opposed assisted dying legislation, citing concerns for disabled people and his Christian faith. Reflecting on his resignation, Balfour wrote, “I take no pleasure in leaving my political home after over 3 decades. But as I have watched the Party drift away from the principles that led me to join, I believe that I have no choice.”
With Balfour’s exit, the Scottish Conservatives are left with 29 MSPs and face a period of soul-searching as they prepare for a challenging election. Whether the party can reconcile its internal divisions and present a compelling vision to voters remains to be seen. For now, Jeremy Balfour’s departure stands as a stark warning about the perils of political drift and the importance of staying true to core values—even when it means walking away from a lifelong home.
