John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland, has issued a stark warning to Scots against being lured by the “simple solutions” proposed by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, branding the party’s rhetoric as damaging to the fundamental values of society.
Speaking on BBC’s Sunday Show, the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader acknowledged the disillusionment felt by many across the country due to years of economic hardship and political instability. However, he stressed that turning to parties offering populist quick fixes was not the answer.
“I understand why people are disaffected,” Mr Swinney said. “We’ve gone through a really hard time — austerity, Covid, the war in Ukraine, soaring inflation. But these challenges require thoughtful, collaborative solutions, not simplistic slogans.”
The First Minister specifically singled out Reform UK’s stance on immigration, saying it caused him “enormous concern.” He insisted that the party’s ideology contributes to the erosion of social cohesion and democratic values in Scotland.
“There are parts of the argument and the rhetoric of Reform that contribute to that sense of division,” he said. “I’m reaching out to people in Scotland to say they shouldn’t be tempted by those ideologies.”
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Mr Swinney’s comments come ahead of a key summit he has called for Wednesday, aimed at confronting the rise of far-right movements in the UK. The summit, which the First Minister described as a space for “dialogue and shared values,” will be attended by all of Holyrood’s parliamentary parties — with the exception of Reform UK, who were not invited.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has declined to attend the event, dismissing it as a “talking shop.” Meanwhile, Reform UK’s Scottish councillor Thomas Kerr, a former Tory who defected to the party, accused the First Minister of playing politics with public funds.
“This summit is absolutely ludicrous,” Mr Kerr said. “It’s a political stunt funded by the taxpayer. Mr Swinney is using his platform to discredit his political opponents instead of engaging with them fairly.”
Though he admitted he would have “liked” an invitation, Kerr claimed he likely wouldn’t have attended. “My message to Mr Swinney is simple — beat us at the ballot box, don’t try to scare people out of supporting us.”
Kerr also rejected the suggestion that Reform UK should be labelled “far-right,” stating, “I deplore racism and far-right rhetoric as much as anyone else.”
In defence of his decision to exclude Reform from the summit, Mr Swinney said the event was intended to foster unity among parties committed to upholding democratic values, not those undermining them.
“What we’re trying to do is bring people together,” he explained. “There is a way for us to strengthen economic opportunity, eradicate child poverty, and improve the NHS — all while upholding shared values and working within inclusive communities.”
He emphasised that his government remains focused on tackling the root causes of disaffection. “I recognise why people feel lost right now,” he said. “But we must address those issues together, through practical and inclusive policies, not by turning to divisive ideologies.”
With just weeks before the next general election, the First Minister’s warning appears to be part of a broader effort by the SNP to confront the growing appeal of right-wing populist movements in Scotland and beyond. Whether the summit succeeds in creating political consensus remains to be seen, but Swinney has made clear his stance: unity and shared values must take precedence over political expediency.
