Sarwar Condemns Reform UK's 'Race-Baiting' Tactics in Holyrood Election
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has launched a scathing attack on Reform UK, accusing the party of introducing 'race-baiting' into the Holyrood election campaign. The criticism centres on a new billboard campaign unveiled by Reform, which Sarwar claims employs racially aggravating imagery and messaging to stoke division.
Reform's Controversial Billboard Campaign
On Wednesday, Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord revealed two election campaign vans in Glasgow's east end. The billboards featured images of migrants, all depicted as non-white individuals on a small boat, accompanied by the slogan 'Scotland is at breaking point'. A caption below read: 'Glasgow has become the illegal migrant capital of the UK. Only Reform Scotland will stop this.'
Sarwar responded forcefully, telling the Press Association: 'If you look at that billboard and you look at that ad, this is a political organisation that wants to race-bait for their own ends. It shows you why they are not worthy to be in office and why all they can do is stop change in this country, rather than deliver change.'
Historical Context and SNP Involvement
This is not the first time Reform has targeted Sarwar. Last year, the party ran an advert quoting Sarwar's call for greater representation for south Asian communities, followed by a warning that he would prioritise Pakistani people. Sarwar labelled this as racially aggravating and accused the SNP of exploiting Reform's messaging for political gain.
He specifically criticised First Minister John Swinney, stating: 'When Reform race-bait, I call them out for what they are and I say it's clear that has no role in our politics. What does John Swinney do when they race-bait? He uses it as a way of making a political point, an attack on me, claiming that the very same people that are race-baiting me are the ones that somehow I'm doing some grubby deal with.'
SNP and Reform Responses
Swinney had previously suggested that Labour and Reform could form a 'grubby backroom deal' if the SNP fails to secure a majority in the Scottish Parliament. Sarwar has categorically denied this, asserting there will be 'no pacts, no deals' and 'no grubby coalitions' with Reform.
The SNP has condemned Reform's campaign, with a spokesperson calling the billboard 'an utter disgrace' and urging Sarwar to confirm he will not rely on Reform votes. Meanwhile, Reform UK Scotland has defended its actions. Lord Offord argued at a press conference that politicians have allowed Glasgow, representing about 1% of the UK population, to take in 6% of Britain's asylum seekers, claiming migrants are drawn to Scotland for better benefits.
Thomas Kerr, a Reform Holyrood candidate, indicated the party might use similar ads in the future, despite widespread criticism. The controversy highlights escalating tensions in the run-up to the Holyrood election, with accusations of racial divisiveness taking centre stage.
