Listing on ACC website showing SNP councillor as a Reform member (Image: ACC) It is unclear when the change happened. The error was fixed at around 12.30pm on Sunday.
The apparent switch was picked up by Reform-supporting social media influencer Luis Cook, who posted on X: “Our first (direct) defection from the SNP to Reform! A warm welcome to Cllr Alex McLellan, who represents Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen ward on Aberdeen City Council.”
Reform UK Scotland quickly dismissed the claim.
“Absolute nonsense,” the party posted. “We have never spoken with this councillor and have zero knowledge of his wish to defect.”
Absolute nonsense. We have never spoken with this councillor and have zero knowledge of his wish to defect.
— Reform UK Scotland (@ReformUKScot) August 17, 2025
Cllr McLellan himself described the claim as a “lie”.
“These people are so desperate for attention that they will fabricate nonsense about whatever, and whomever, they can.
“The problem they have is that defamation laws exist in the UK for a reason, and if this post isn’t taken down then they will likely find that out.”
This is a lie.
These people are so desperate for attention that they will fabricate nonsense about whatever, and whomever, they can.
The problem they have is that defamation laws exist in the UK for a reason, & if this post isn’t taken down then they will likely find that out. https://t.co/NqoGXHsn7l
— Alex McLellan (@McLellanSNP) August 17, 2025
The councillor, who convenes the local authority’s powerful Finance and Resource Committee, and works in the constituency office of SNP MSP Jackie Dunbar, told The Herald: “I was simply dismayed to see people on social media claiming incorrectly that I had moved to Reform UK.
“To later find out that these comments were based on changes made to the Aberdeen City Council’s official website has raised huge concerns.
“Whilst this incorrect information has now been updated, we must ascertain how this happened and who was responsible.”
“Actions must have consequences.”
Aberdeen City Council has been approached for comment.
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Reform UK currently has 13 councillors in Scotland, out of a total of 1,226.
Its most recent defector was Jamie McGuire, who represents Renfrew and Braehead and became the first Scottish councillor to switch from Labour to Reform.
Aberdeen Conservative councillor Duncan Massey also recently defected to Mr Farage’s party. On the council’s alphabetical list of councillors, his name appears directly before Cllr McLellan’s.
Speaking at The Herald’s Unspun Live event at the Edinburgh Fringe earlier this month, polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice said he believed it would be “child’s play” for Reform to win at least 10 seats in next year’s Holyrood election — and suggested the party could even become the second largest in the Scottish Parliament.
Curtice said Reform might be the second largest party in Holyrood (Image: Colin Mearns/NQ)
He said: “I think Kemi Badenoch is becoming more effective, but it is very much a work in progress. The problem the Tories face is that Reform are not just taking voters, they are taking donors, they are taking people.
“It is very difficult to see any outcome other than the SNP still providing government. What remains highly uncertain is how strong it will be. It could be as low as 45 seats. I think the maximum at the moment is 55 seats.
“But 55 seats — you have only got to find one party to make a deal. With 45 you have got to find two, and that becomes much more difficult.
“I think at the moment it is a race between Reform and Labour over who comes second, and unless the popularity of the Labour government improves, Labour may find themselves in much the same position as they are at the moment.”
He added: “The lesson of the last Westminster parliament is not to presume that the outcome of the last election is going to determine what happens at the next one.”
