A FORMER SNP councillor has become the third in Aberdeenshire to join Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
John Cox, who was kicked out of the SNP group in 2017, has joined the party following similar moves from Mark Findlater and Laurie Carnie in October.
However, the Press and Journal reports that Cox intends to continue sitting as an independent despite joining Farage’s party in the last fortnight.
The councillor represents the Banff and District ward on Aberdeenshire council.
Asked why he joined Farage’s (below) party, Cox referenced the “economic decline” in his ward and said high taxes are “hampering local businesses”.
Cox was previously at odds on a range of issues, including support for Brexit, saying the party “put his ward at a disadvantage”.
He was also critical of the Labour Government’s policies on oil and gas.
Cox told the P&J: “I support legal immigration. I think it should be more flexible to support manufacturing, healthcare and professional services.
“Illegal and uncontrollable immigration is the issue.”
He further said that he had wanted Scottish independence when he was an SNP member to get out of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy.
“After Brexit, the SNP wanted to go back into Europe and hand back powers,” he said.
Reform’s rise in Scotland has been particularly prominent in Aberdeenshire with Jo Hart – the candidate in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East at the General Election – picking up more than 5000 votes.
Recent polling from Find Out Now for The National suggested that Reform could win up to 10 seats at the next Holyrood election.
