Fife Tories hit as councillor quits – weeks after Leader joined Labour
A Fife Conservative councillor has become the second elected member to quit the party this month.
Darren Watt announced the news on social media, confirming that he had made the “difficult decision” to resign from the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
The Cowdenbeath councillor’s decision comes just weeks after the Tory group leader, Councillor Kathleen Leslie, quit and joined Labour.
A statement from Cllr Watt said: “After much thought and careful reflection, it is with great sadness that I have made the difficult decision to resign my membership of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party with immediate effect.
“I will continue to represent the Cowdenbeath Ward as an Independent Councillor until the end of the current Council term in May 2027. Having taken into account my personal integrity, my professional responsibilities, and my wider commitments, I will not be making any further comment at this stage.”
At the beginning of July, Councillor Leslie quit the Conservatives, stating she was “increasingly unable” to support the Tory Party’s positions on “everything from migration to foreign policy to welfare reform.”
The Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy councillor said she was a “better fit” as part of Labour’s minority administration at Fife House.
The latest departure cuts the Tories ranks to just four - Dave Dempsey, Cllr Peter Gulline, Cllr James Leslie and Conner Young.
Last September, Dunfermline councillor Gavin Ellis defected to ReformUK.
St Andrews councillor Robin Lawson also joined Nigel Farage’s party, but in a personal capacity. He sits as an independent, but allies with the far right group.