SCOTLAND’S only Reform MSP has left the door open to a deal with Tory “also-rans” to force the SNP out of office after May’s Holyrood elections.

Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson, a refugee from the Tory Party whose electoral hopes he said were “diminishing fast,” defected to Reform in August describing it as a “great move.”

He said: “My wife says she has never seen me laugh so much in years.”

A string of polls has suggested his new party could win 20 seats, putting it in contention for second place in next year’s elections.

Mr Simpson said: “Reform aren’t going to form a majority but a majority could be formed with other people, or there could be some arrangement.”

Describing his former party as “also-rans,” he nonetheless said post-election talks with Tories were possible, but they “need to be sensible about those discussions and not rule anything out, if they, like we, want to get rid of the SNP.”

Arguing that May’s elections would be “a fight for the heart and soul of the nation,” former SNP MP for Glasgow South West Chris Stephens responded: “The threat from Reform is real.  

“What these comments show is that Reform candidates are single transferable political party politicians, who on the one hand denounce their former party while on the other seek alliance with them.”

The anti-racism campaigner added: “The inconsistencies, the bigotry, and snake oil must be vigorously highlighted and exposed in the coming months. 

“A vote for Reform is a vote for outsourcing, privatisation and allowing corporate elites to amass their wealth while the rest of us battle a very real cost-of-living crisis, and campaign for world class public services.”