FORMER Scottish Tory MSP Jamie Greene has defected to the LibDems.
Greene quit the party on Thursday in protest at its "Reform-lite agenda".
He took to the stage at the LibDem's conference in Inverness, reportedly telling the crowd he was "not sure who's more surprised to see me here, you or me".
It is understood he joined the party on Friday morning.
The Scottish LibDems then announced his defection on X.
Speaking after his defection, Greene said: “In politics, I have worked to make life better for the people I represent and to live up to the values of ambition, openness, and freedom that have driven me all my life.
“As my former party misguidedly revels in the worst aspects of our politics, I have chosen to join a party whose values align with mine - the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
“I look forward to working with Alex and my new LibDem MSP colleagues on the real issues that matter to communities like mine in the West of Scotland.”
Our newest MSP, Jamie Greene! With Jamie on our team, Scottish Liberal Democrats will keep making our voices heard on the issues that matter - getting you fast access to health care, lifting up Scottish education and growing our economy.#sldconf pic.twitter.com/bQPtLjVrID
— Scottish Lib Dems (@scotlibdems) April 4, 2025
Greene resigned from the Scottish Tories in a scathing letter to leader Russell Findlay.
He wrote that he joined a “modern party led by David Cameron” but added that “the unfortunate truth, however, is that the Scottish Conservative Party which I joined simply no longer exists”.
He added: “I joined the party that supported gay marriage, in which minority communities were welcome, which pledged commitment to a net-zero environment and which was a political ‘big tent and broad church’.
“It was an election-winning formula and I felt as though I had truly found my political home. It was a party that made a young, working class, gay man from Greenock feel very welcome. I do not regret that decision."
Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said he was "over the moon" to welcome Greene to the party.
“Jamie is respected on all sides of the chamber. He is one of the parliament’s most effective communicators and has a selfless compassion which is seldom seen in our line of work.
“He speaks to a massive constituency of people who voted for Ruth Davidson’s Conservatives and are now dismayed to see that party lurching to extremes. His words have sent a shockwave through our country’s politics.
“He sees in the Scottish Liberal Democrats a chance to do things differently. With us, he can represent a party that’s going from strength to strength, a party where he can be a powerful local champion, get things done and make a difference for his constituents."
Greene's defection takes the LibDems' Holyrood cohort to five MSPs.
