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Four councillors quit Conservatives to form new party

Billy McCrorie A sandstone council headquarters in Dumfries on a sunny day with cars parked in front and a blue sky aboveBilly McCrorie
The councillors have split from the ruling group

Four councillors have quit the Scottish Conservative group on Dumfries and Galloway Council to set up a new party.

Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh blamed their decision on frustration over centralised decision-making.

They pointed to the lack of support for the Galloway National Park proposals as one of the reasons they decided to form an independent group called Novantae.

It leaves the Scottish Conservative and Unionist group - which forms the administration - with nine councillors.

The SNP has 11 members, Scottish Labour has eight, and there are 15 sitting as independents or in smaller political groupings.

All four councillors who have split from the Conservatives are based in the west of the region.

Giusti and Hill represent Stranraer and the Rhins, while Inglis and Marsh are councillors for Mid Galloway and Wigtown West.

Last week the Scottish government dropped plans for a Galloway National Park after encountering "significant opposition".

Dumfries and Galloway Council voted to respond to the official consultation on the park proposals as "undecided".

Guisti said the group wanted to pursue a political agenda "truly reflective of the needs and aspirations of our local communities".

"We were elected to serve our communities, but increasingly we have found that vital decisions affecting our region are being made without sufficient local input."

His colleague, Marsh, added: "The lack of genuine support for the Galloway National Park —an opportunity that could potentially transform our economy, tourism, and environment—is just one example of a broader failure to listen to the west of the region.

"This isn't about political point-scoring; it's about standing up for the people we were elected to represent."

They said they held no ill will towards the Scottish Conservatives and were prepared to work constructively with them and any other political group.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives wished the councillors well.

They said there had already been "significant investment" in the area represented by the Novantae councillors.

They pointed to the renovation of the George Hotel in Stranraer and work on a new watersports centre in the town.

"The Scottish Conservatives are the only party delivering for the people of Wigtownshire - and that will remain the case," the spokesperson said.