Charles Turner Reform UK
Standing in Edinburgh Southern · Edinburgh and Lothians East region
A second-generation immigrant whose parents moved to the UK from the West Indies in the 1960s, he trained as an apprentice and qualified engineer and is self-employed running a technical engineering consultancy. A former Labour voter, he moved to Scotland in 2023 with his Scottish wife.
Policy Positions
Scotland's Future
Oppose independence. Strong unionist position rejecting another referendum as a distraction from Scotland's day-to-day problems.
NHS & Health
NHS Scotland stays free at the point of need and funded by general taxation, but needs major reform. A workforce plan to train more doctors and nurses and a shift to prevention.
Housing
Repeal SNP tenancy regulations and introduce a Rent-To-Buy model for young people, first-time buyers and working families. Restore a local connection requirement for social housing.
Climate & Transport
Scrap all SNP Net Zero related targets, subsidies and quangos. End the ban on new nuclear in Scotland and rehabilitate North Sea gas as the primary energy system.
Tax & Public Spending
Cut income tax. Scrap Scotland's six income tax bands, mirror the rUK three bands at 1p below each, and aim for a 3p variation below rUK within the first five years.
Economy & Jobs
Cut £7.5bn of spending — £1bn from ideological Net Zero projects and £6.5bn from 132 quangos — to fund a new deal for Scotland that rewards work and aspiration.
Education & Childcare
Direct school-leavers into trades via technical colleges rather than universities. Ban mobile phones in classrooms and give headteachers discretion over budgets and recruitment.
Social Issues
Socially conservative. Criticises existing gender policies as "woke" and argues the SNP has not protected women and girls in Scotland.
Track Record
› Self-employed technical engineering consultant
› Former Labour voter; moved from England to Scotland in 2023
› Reported as the only Black Reform UK constituency candidate in Scotland