Fife councillor defects to Nigel Farage's Reform UK
'I want more grown up, authentic politics and an opportunity to work together to offer better.
'I look forward to this exciting new chapter and I remain fully committed to serving the people of Fife.'
Fife councillor Julie MacDougall. (Image: Fife Council) Cllr MacDougall quit the Labour Party after she was not selected to stand in the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency ahead of the 2024 general election.
The party instead selected Medical Aid for Palestinians CEO Melanie Ward, who was elected in July 2024.
Cllr MacDougall, whose father John served as MP for Glenrothes between 2001 and 2008, said the decision was "disrespectful and insulting".
In a post on X, Reform Scotland UK welcomed the Fife councillor to the party, tweeting: "Delighted to welcome Cllr MacDougall to Reform UK.
"Julie MacDougall is a hardworking Fife councillor having previously been elected for Labour, she is the daughter of former Fife Labour MP John MacDougall. Julie is a fantastic local champion and a great addition to Team Reform."
Reform UK has secured more than a dozen councillor defections across Scotland in recent months.
Renfrewshire councillor Jamie McGuire, formerly of Labour, defected to Reform in June, amidst the heated Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse by-election.
The 25-year-old, who previously served as chair of Glasgow University's Labour club, said at the time: "I joined Reform because I see it as a genuine opportunity to tackle the deep structural issues holding Britain back.
'We are in a state of managed decline – with overstretched public services, an uncompetitive tax system and too many people being left behind."
Read more:
'A slap in the face': Reform's Scottish defectors will face the public's wrath
Best get used to it: Reform and indy will be at the heart of our debate for years
'Absolute nonsense': Reform denies SNP defection claim after council website glitch
According to polling guru Sir John Curtice, Reform could become the second largest party at Holyrood after the next election.
Speaking at The Herald's Unspun Live event, he said: 'I think at the moment it is a race between Reform and Labour over who comes second, and unless the popularity of the Labour government improves, Labour may find themselves in much the same position as they are at the moment.
"The lesson of the last Westminster parliament is not to presume that the outcome of the last election is going to determine what happens at the next one.'
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