The deputy leader of Reform UK Scotland has accused other parties at Holyrood of engaging in “political posturing” by refusing to hold talks with the party. The criticism follows comments from First Minister John Swinney, who stated on Saturday that he would not invite Reform UK to discussions at the Scottish Government headquarters in St Andrew’s House.
Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, newly elected SNP MSP for Clydesdale and former housing secretary Mairi McAllan reinforced Swinney’s stance. She said: “I think there are a portion of Reform voters who have voted for Reform this time because they’re either angry or because they’ve been made to feel scared. We will speak directly to them and work to improve their lives so they no longer have to feel that way. But we will not deal with the likes of Malcolm Offord and his acolytes in the Parliament.”
Reform UK secured their first seats in the Scottish Parliament during the Holyrood elections, finishing joint second with Labour. However, when asked whether he would have invited Reform for talks had Labour won, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar replied “no”. Speaking on the Sunday Show, Sarwar added: “If we think the next parliament is all about just shouting about Nigel Farage or creating noise and trying to create division, that only serves the purpose of those who want to use politics to divide us between Scot versus Scot. What we need in this Parliament, in the national interest, is to make sure it is actually getting things done for people in Scotland and also a Parliament that is holding the SNP government to account and making sure they deliver on the promises they make. I don’t believe Reform can do that, I don’t think its their intention to do that. And it is my intention, working with other political parties who share those same views, to make sure there is a credible opposition that holds the SNP’s feet to the fire.”
Reform UK Scotland’s deputy leader Thomas Kerr dismissed the comments as “political posturing” and “anti-democratic”. He said: “We’ve not even stepped foot in the chamber yet. These are politicians who are doing political posturing before we’ve even stepped foot in the chambers of the Holyrood Parliament. So I think it’s ridiculous for them, it’s anti democratic, we’ve seen this last year when John Swinney held his anti-democratic summit, it backfired on him then… this will backfire on him.”
However, Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay labelled Kerr’s remarks as “farcical” and confirmed her party would also refuse to engage with Reform. Speaking on the Sunday Show, she said: “I don’t think any of us should be dealing with Reform, given some of the tactics that they’ve employed across the country, targeting minorities across communities, dividing communities. One of their candidates wanted to deport all Muslims in the country. It’s just farcical seeing Thomas saying that they’re going to be a constructive opposition, given what we’ve seen over the course of the election.”
