The jailing of a Conservative councillor has seen Tory support collapse in a by-election, allowing Reform UK to firmly plant a flag in fertile new territory.
A vote was triggered in Bearsden South ward in East Dunbartonshire following the disqualification of Andrew Polson over his conviction last November for romantic fraud.
The Conservatives’ hope to preserve their seat on the council, led by candidate Duncan Evans, was dashed as the party sank to just 6.2 per cent of the vote, a 17-point drop from 2022.
It was a total reversal of fortunes for the Lib Dems in the January 29 contest, who romped to victory with 38 per cent of the electorate.
Bearsden South is an STV ward, meaning under the Scottish election system, three councillors are elected.
Therefore, the victorious Ben Langmeadr will now be joining long-time incumbent, and fellow Lib Dem, Vaugh Moody, alongside the SNP’s Ian Gallagher.
However, a sleeper success from the by-election was Nigel Farage’s party, which lodged a strong third place in the vote.
Reform captured a convincing 15.5 per cent of the electorate at the first time of asking in the Scottish authority.
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK made a strong first impression in Bearsden South ward in East Dunbartonshire
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This put Mr Farage’s party, led by Lord Offord north of the border, a point clear of Labour, which dropped by nearly two per cent.
It also brought Reform candidate John Farlie within touching distance of the SNP, which won 17.2 per cent, dropping a significant 6.2 points.
Reform’s strong third-place finish echoed the 2025 Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, where it finished just narrowly behind more traditional Scottish frontrunners.
It compounded further misery on the Conservatives, who finished a dire sixth place – dead last among the mainstream parties.
Andrew Polson was sentenced to 22 months in prison and disqualified as councillor | POLICE SCOTLAND
Andrew Polson had served on the council from 2017 before being suspended by the Scottish Conservatives after accusations of fraud came to light.
He then stood as an independent councillor until his sentence, which meant disqualification as a councillor.
In November 2025, Polson was sentenced to 22 months in prison after carrying out £188,000 of romance fraud.
The former Tory persuaded his ex-partner to give him money to buy property to sell or rent out, but put his sole name on the title deeds without telling her.
He was also convicted of embezzling more than £9,000 from Christian radio station Revival FM after being found guilty during a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Even without the Polson case, the growing turquoise tide in Scotland can no longer be ignored.
There was a time when a party fronted by Nigel Farage was anathema in Scotland. In 2013, he was hounded into an Edinburgh pub by beligertent protestors as leader of Ukip.
Now, Reform poll comfortably above Labour for a seemingly unassailable second place ahead of May’s Holyrood election, according to fresh data from YouGov.
Reform’s momentum north of the border is becoming impossible to ignore
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The party boasted 20 per cent support in both the constituency and regional vote north of the border, compared to 15 per cent for Labour.
While the SNP remained well in front of the pack in the poll, on 34 and 29 per cent respectively, its support has dropped substantially since 2021.
Last month, Reform UK went on to achieve its first by-election victory in Scotland when David McLennan was elected as a councillor for the Whitburn and Blackburn ward in West Lothian.
There also appears to be fertile ground for Mr Farage in Scotland, as disillusionment with the traditional parties.
Reacting to the by-election, one Bearsden resident told GB News: “You get the impression it doesn’t matter who gets in. There are still potholes despite what we pay in our council charge, which is a lot”
“Despite complaining about the state of the roads, nothing changes.
“The councillors are impotent or don’t listen,” they told The People’s Channel.”
After 19 years of SNP dominance, Nigel Farage could be well placed to capitalise on this dissatisfaction among Scottish voters.
