Reform UK is to mount a challenge for its first Scottish council seat next month.
David McLennan, who contested the Livingston constituency in the General Election two weeks ago, will stand in the Armadale and Blackridge ward on 22 August.
Mr McLennan, 64, originally from West Calder, is one of seven candidates who will contest the Armadale and Blackridge seat on West Lothian Council.
A retired police officer and property investor Mr McLennan polled 3,977 votes in the 4 July vote, beating the Conservatives. He stood for Reform because he admired “common sense” proposals of the newly formed party.
In is candidate’s statement for the General election he gave his reasons for standing as a Reform candidate: “My attention was initially drawn to the Housing segment of the Reform Contract with the public.
“The concept of reverting to 2017 tax thresholds, which would incentivise landlords to invest in additional properties, contrasts with the current SNP/Green legislation, pushing us toward the abyss and compelling many to sell against their wishes.
“I then read more of the Contract and was impressed by the amount of common sense proposals it promotes. And so, I joined.”
Polling will take place between the hours of 7am and 10pm on Thursday, 22 August for the election of one councillor to ward 9, the Armadale and Blackridge Ward (Ward 9).
The new councillor will replace Stuart Borrowman who served the ward from 2003 until his death at the age of 71 in May. There are two other council seats in the ward – one held by the SNP’s Lynda Kenna, the other by Independent Andrew McGuire.
Scottish Labour, the SNP and the Conservatives will be joined on the ballot paper by the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Reform and an independent.
Those entitled to vote at this election are those who are aged 16 years old or over on 22 August and who are registered to vote in the Armadale and Blackridge Ward of West Lothian Council.
The full list of candidates is:
Barclay, Keith Alan: SNP
Butler, Douglas Thomas: LIberal Democrats
Hannah, John: Independence for Scotland Party
Manion, Susan: Scottish Labour Party
McLennan, David: Reform UK
Rafferty, Adam William, Scottish Greens
Smith, Douglas: Scottish Conservative and Unionist
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
