The former leader of Midlothian Council’s Conservative group has confirmed he has joined the SNP after describing the UK union as ‘no longer serving Scotland’s best interests’.
Councillor David Virgo faced an extraordinary attack from former colleagues at a meeting last month where they called for his resignation amid claims he had changed allegiances after stepping down from the party late last year.
Now Councillor Virgo has confirmed he has joined the SNP saying he had become frustrated by both the policy direction of his former party and increasingly strained relationship between Westminster and the Scottish Government.
He said: “The new Labour government has done little to repair that dynamic, and I no longer believe the union, in its current form, serves Scotland’s best interests. For many, the direction of travel from there will be obvious.
“I have joined the Scottish National Party because I believe Scotland deserves leadership that puts Scotland first—not leadership that treats Scottish priorities as secondary to decisions made in England.”
He said that Midlothian Council works well because it is not party led by decisions are made for the community adding he would continue to challenge decisions where he felt it was not the case.
And he criticised his former Conservative councillors for their attack on him after he left the party.
He said: “In Midlothian, the council is being run well. That’s not down to one party or one person—but for my part, my personal approach has been that political differences must always come second to what’s best for Midlothian.
“That approach has meant sitting round the table, disagreeing respectfully, and finding consensus. I intend to continue exactly that, supporting the administration where our shared goal is improving life for every resident in this county.
“It is telling that my former colleagues recently tabled a motion demanding privileges in the name of cross‑party working, while simultaneously criticising me for actually practising it. They also accused me of supporting administration decisions—carefully omitting that they had done the same, or that last year’s budget passed with a Conservative amendment.
“When I became group leader in 2022, I inherited a fractured group—one councillor had reported another to the Standards Commission in the previous term. Despite that, they were prepared to continue propping up a Labour administration that had left Midlothian staring at a £40 million financial black hole by 2027/28, and were hoping an SNP administration would take the blame for trying—and failing—to fix it.
“That didn’t happen. I’m proud of the role I played in steering Midlothian away from that cliff edge, and I intend to keep supporting progress where it benefits the people we serve.”
At last month’s full council meeting, where the budget for the coming year was approved along with a nine per cent council tax increase, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist group brought a motion calling on their former leader, Councillor Virgo, to step down and allow a by election in his Bonnyrigg ward, pointing out he was elected as a member of their party.
The motion, brought by Conservative councillors Peter Smaill and Pauline Winchester, claimed Councillor Virgo’s name had appeared on the SNP group office door after his departure from their group.
And Mr Smaill said that photographs of Mr Virgo attending the SNP group Christmas party had been shared on social media.
Labour group members also backed the call, however the motion was split with eight SNP councillors and Councillor Virgo voting against it while nine Conservative and Labour councillors supported it, leading to Provost Debbi McColl taking the casting vote and rejecting it.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
