A FORMER Scottish Tory Westminster election candidate has left the party in protest at Boris Johnson becoming Prime Minister.

Mark McGeever , who is a Conservative councillor in South Lanarkshire and stood as a candidate for East Kilbride in 2017, has joined the LibDems.

“When I joined the Conservatives under David Cameron, the party had made clear its intent to govern from the centre of British politics. Over recent years this broad outlook has given way to a much narrower and more ideological focus as the party has focused on appeasing the insatiable demands of the party’s rightmost fringe,” he said.

“The elevation of Mr Johnson to the Conservative leadership was an open declaration the party now has little regard for centrist views. His use of racist, Islamophobic, misogynistic and homophobic language is deeply concerning.

“He has failed to stand up for a British diplomat subject to abuse from President Trump and refused to answer basic questions on the crisis facing the UK. I have not changed my principles since being elected to South Lanarkshire Council and standing in the last General Election, but the party for which I stood has significantly changed its nature.

“It would be disingenuous for me to pretend my views still have a place within it.”