University of Glasgow graduate and Dunoon Ward Councillor Daniel Hampsey has defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK.
The University of Glasgow Conservative & Unionist Association (UofG Tories) told Hillhead Review, “Daniel has been a well respected and liked friend for GUCUA, so this move is both disappointing and surprising.
“Opportunistically jumping ship to Reform is contrary to all that conservatism represents, and having elected a conservative, the electorate deserve to have their voices respected.”
Hampsey graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2025, with a first class degree in History & Politics. He was Secretary of the UofG Conservative & Unionist Association in the 2024/25 academic year, although the society was never officially affiliated with the Student Representative Council (SRC) during his tenure.
CLLR Hampsey joined Barclays as a Graduate Analyst focusing on economic crime in August 2025.
Kyle Park, Conservative candidate for the Glasgow Cathcart and Pollock Ward and UofG student echoed concerns of the UofG Tories, telling Hillhead Review, “Daniel’s defection will be very disappointing for the Conservative activists in Argyll and Bute who worked hard to get him elected, only to see him leave behind his friends and colleagues in such a blatantly opportunistic way.
Park suggested the decision was “career motivated”, stating that “if he truly has the interests of his constituents at heart, he should do the decent thing and resign to trigger a by-election.
“Unlike Reform, instead of playing party politics, the Scottish Conservatives are out knocking on doors, listening to constituents, and focusing on issues that matter. Lowering tax, reducing our NHS waitlists, and fixing our broken education system.”
Following his defection, Hampsey said, “I am delighted to have joined Reform UK, it is clear Reform is the only alternative to the broken political establishment in Scotland.
“I am confident with the leadership of Malcolm Offord, Reform will bring the much-needed change the people of Scotland are crying out for.
The announcement follows the ex-Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s defection to Reform UK this morning.
CLLR Daniel Hampsey told Hillhead Review, “I got involved in politics at a young age because I wanted to help fix the problems I could see in everyday life – a failing CalMac ferry service, roads full of potholes, and a health service that people increasingly struggle to rely on. Like many people across the country, I’ve become disillusioned over time by the failure of mainstream politics to deliver meaningful change. I feel the party I once supported left me, not the other way around.
“It has become clear to me that the traditional parties are, in practice, offering variations of the same approach. The policies may differ around the edges, but the fundamental issues facing our country remain unresolved. Power simply rotates – Labour for a period, the Conservatives before them, and the SNP now after 18 years in government – yet the underlying problems persist.
“I’ve reached the point where I can no longer pretend that this cycle of managed decline is acceptable. I believe politics should be about addressing root causes, not just managing symptoms or defending party brands.
“That is why I am confident that Reform UK – particularly under the leadership of Malcolm Offord in Scotland – offers the only serious opportunity to challenge the complacency that has set in across our political system. I believe Reform is prepared to question the assumptions that other parties now take for granted and to pursue the structural changes needed to get our country moving in the right direction again.
“My focus remains the same as it has always been: improving services, fixing infrastructure, and making sure ordinary people see real, practical improvements in their daily lives. This decision is about being able to pursue those goals more effectively.”
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