Reform UK Faces Backlash Over Potential Rerun of Controversial Political Ad
Reform UK has indicated it may resurrect a highly contentious attack advertisement targeting Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, which was previously condemned as racist by prominent political figures. The advertisement, which first appeared during the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election in 2025, controversially claimed that Mr Sarwar would prioritise the Pakistani community in Scotland, a statement he has never made.
Senior Party Figure Refuses to Rule Out Reusing the Material
During a press conference in Glasgow's east end, Thomas Kerr, a senior Reform UK figure and Holyrood candidate, explicitly declined to rule out re-airing the advertisement. Mr Kerr, a former Conservative councillor, defended the potential move by stating that Mr Sarwar, as a candidate for First Minister, deserves intense scrutiny. This is a man who is hoping to be first minister at Holyrood for all of Scotland and I think it's right that he is held accountable for statements he has made, he told reporters.
The event was held alongside Reform UK Scotland leader Lord Malcolm Offord in front of campaign vans displaying images of non-white migrants on a boat, accompanied by the slogan Scotland is at breaking point. Smaller text below claimed Glasgow has become the illegal migrant capital of the UK, asserting that only Reform Scotland will stop this.
Political Reactions and Accusations of Sectarianism
The original advertisement, which Reform UK spent thousands of pounds to promote on Facebook and Instagram, featured edited clips of Mr Sarwar advocating for greater representation of Scots with south Asian heritage. Superimposed text misleadingly suggested he would prioritise Pakistani people, leading to accusations of racism from Mr Sarwar and First Minister John Swinney.
Nigel Farage has previously defended the ad, playing it at an event in London last year and accusing Mr Sarwar of introducing sectarianism into Scottish politics. Lord Offord, appointed by Mr Farage as Scottish leader earlier this year, emphasised that Reform UK seeks to secure a majority in Holyrood, not to prop up other parties. We're not interested in second place, we're not interested in propping up Anas Sarwar or John Swinney, he stated.
Policy Stances and Ruled-Out Alliances
Lord Offord outlined that a Reform Scottish government would use devolved powers, such as housing policy, to clamp down on migration—a reserved matter—highlighting their focus on economic growth. He ruled out any potential deal with Scottish Labour, citing fundamental disagreements on economic policy. We couldn't work with Labour because they don't share our view on economic growth, he explained, criticising Labour's measures in London over the past two years.
Mr Sarwar has previously rejected any collaboration with Reform UK to become First Minister. Given Holyrood's proportional voting system, which makes majority victories unlikely, political leaders often depend on support from other MSPs to form a government, adding complexity to the current electoral landscape.
As the campaign intensifies, the potential reuse of this advertisement underscores the deepening political divisions and the contentious nature of immigration discourse in Scottish politics.
