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Ex-Reform chief quits over link to Facebook group

Getty Images Michelle Ballantyne, with light brown highlighted hair, looks at the camera in a medium-close-up. She in wearing a dark jacket and blue top and is in the Scottish Parliament building. Getty Images
Former Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne joined Reform in January 2021

Reform UK's ex-leader in Scotland has quit the party after it emerged she was the administrator of a Facebook page featuring racist and far-right posts.

Michelle Ballantyne, a former Scottish Conservative MSP and leadership candidate, accused Reform of a "witch hunt".

She had been suspended by Nigel Farage's party after her role in the Facebook group was reported by the Sunday Mail.

A party spokesperson said Ms Ballantyne had been suspended as "standard practice" while an investigation was carried out.

Reform UK has previously said the Facebook group - called Reform UK standing with Scotland - has "nothing to do with the party".

The group contains derogatory comments about immigrants and political figures, including Humza Yousaf, Anas Sarwar and Sir Keir Starmer.

Racism claim

In a post to the Facebook page, Ms Ballantyne said she had cancelled her Reform membership after being suspended and being accused of bringing the party into disrepute.

She told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime show that she had been made an administrator of the group in October to organise a campaign day but had not been active since.

Campaign group Hope Not Hate described the group as being "full to the brim with racism and extremism".

Ms Ballantyne described that as "a very, very unfair characterisation".

She said she had not seen posts about Yousaf or Sarwar, adding it would be "ridiculous" to apologise for something she had "nothing to do with".

In a resignation letter to Reform's leadership, the former MSP dismissed as "laughable and insulting" suggestions she had brought the party into disrepute.

Ms Ballantyne told Drivetime that she had not been an active member for some time.

She claimed there was "no room for anyone that has opinions" in the party.

A Reform UK Scotland spokesman said: "As standard practice, we suspend and investigate any members that make or facilitate racist or antisemitic comments.

"Reform UK upholds the highest standards for our members, candidates and elected officials."

Getty Images Michelle Ballantyne, with light brown highlighted hair, and Jackson Carlaw, with greying blond hair, shake hands while seated. They are photographed from a low angle while surrounded by other seated people. Ballantyne is wearing a purple jacket and dark dress, while Carlaw is wearing a dark suit and gold tie. Getty Images
Michelle Ballantyne lost out to Jackson Carlaw in the 2020 Scottish Conservative leadership election

Ms Ballantyne was elected as Tory MSP for the South Scotland region in 2017.

She quit the party in November 2020 following a failed leadership bid, losing out to Jackson Carlaw. In January 2021, she was unveiled as Reform's Scottish leader.

She lost her seat four months later in the Holyrood election and stepped down as Scotland leader in February 2022, telling The Herald she wanted to focus on a restoration project in Selkirk.

During the Conservative leadership election, she was criticised for previously saying that people on benefits could not have "as many children as they like".

Recent polls have suggested that Reform could be on track to pick up several seats at the next Holyrood election, scheduled for 2026.

However, the party has been dogged by controversies surrounding its candidates and officials.

In December, a Reform organiser in Scotland was removed from his post after it was reported he had family ties to violent Loyalists.

It was also claimed that he had images comparing the SNP to Nazis on his social media accounts.