Former Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie Greene defects to Liberal Democrats

Jamie Greene, a former Member of the Scottish Parliament representing the Scottish Conservatives, made a surprising move by defecting to the Scottish Liberal Democrats. This decision took effect immediately, as Greene parted ways with his previous party. In a letter addressed to leader Russell Findlay, the West of Scotland MSP criticized the Scottish Tories for adopting a “Trump-esque” approach in both their style and policies to attract right-wing voters. The announcement of Greene’s switch was made by the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Alex Cole-Hamilton, during the party’s annual conference in Inverness.

Cole-Hamilton praised Greene as an effective communicator and emphasized the alignment between Greene’s values and those of the Liberal Democrats. Greene’s decision to join the party was revealed by Cole-Hamilton at the conference, with Greene expressing gratitude for the warm reception he received from attendees. Reflecting on the recent events, Greene humorously noted the contrast in size between the Liberal Democrat conference and that of his former party, highlighting the significance of finding a political home where one feels welcomed and valued.

During his speech at the conference, Greene emphasized his outreach to compassionate center-right Tories who share his disillusionment with the focus of the Scottish Conservatives on divisive cultural issues. He called for a united front against the spread of hatred, right-wing populism, and the scapegoating of individuals in the current precarious political climate. Greene, who has represented the West of Scotland in the MSP since 2016, expressed his relief and optimism about his decision to join the Liberal Democrats, describing it as a much-needed breath of fresh air in the political landscape

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