UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar blames SNP’s public service failures for Reform UK’s rise, accusing them of fueling Nigel Farage’s momentum before key summit.
As reported by The Telegraph, Scottish Labour leader claims SNP’s mishandling of public services is pushing voters to Reform UK, calling it a “recruiting sergeant.”
What did Anas Sarwar say about the SNP’s role in Reform UK’s rise?
Anas Sarwar said the surge in backing for Farage’s Reform UK stems from the SNP’s failures and poor handling of health and education.
Ahead of an anti-Right wing summit hosted by John Swinney, the Scottish leader stated that politicians who “helped fan the flames of divisive politics” had no right to claim to be “the ones to lead the fight against it.”
He claimed the First Minister exaggerated the threat posed by Reform UK to justify the taxpayer-funded summit, describing it as a “convenient political tool” for the SNP.
Mr Sarwar will attend the summit, but said,
“After nearly two decades, the SNP’s failures and deflections have left many Scots politically disenfranchised, believing that politics does not work for them.”
He stated,
“The uncomfortable truth is that the failure of the SNP to provide the public services people rely on and live up to the hopes people put in them has acted as a recruiting sergeant for the rise of divisive politics.”
Labour Scottish leader added,
“John Swinney is talking Reform UK up because it’s a helpful political tool for his party, rather than taking on the issues that are pushing people towards them.”
Mr Sarwar argued that Scotland doesn’t need “the politics of Nigel Farage,” slamming the Reform UK leader as
“someone who aims to privatize the NHS and burden working families with healthcare costs.”
SNP’s summit by John Swinney
John Swinney stated that he aims to “lock out” Reform UK from securing seats in next year’s Scottish Parliament elections. He invited leaders from civic, church, and political parties to attend the summit, but Russell Findlay, the Scottish Tory leader, has opted not to attend.
Mr Findlay argued that the summit was “unnecessary,” accusing Mr Swinney of using it to “distract from the SNP’s poor performance.”
Mr Swinney stated,
“Across the world, we can see democratic systems under pressure, with fundamental principles being challenged and, in some cases, actively undermined. Scotland is not immune, so we must ensure we are prepared.”
He added,
“As First Minister, I want to bring people together to help shape our response to these threats, and make sure we work together to protect and strengthen the democratic values that underpin who we are as Scots.”
What did Thomas Kerr say about Sarwar and Swinney’s leadership?
Thomas Kerr, a Glasgow councillor who left the Tories to join Reform, argued that Anas Sarwar and John Swinney are
“two peas in the same Left-wing socialist pod that has failed Scotland for generations.”
He criticized Mr Sarwar for
“showing nothing but utter contempt to those hard-working Scots who may vote Reform by taking part in a ‘Nasty Nat’ anti-democratic summit.”
What did John Curtice say about Farage’s influence on Reform UK in Scotland?
A leading pollster, Prof John Curtice, said the rise of the right-wing populist party poses no threat to the SNP, as pro-independence voters are not likely to support it.
He stated,
“Reform are where they are because of Nigel Farage. He has to turn up and contest everything Reform are hoping to fight, as he’s the one person everybody’s heard of. He’s marmite. But for the constituency they’re to appeal, he’s box office.”
Mr Curtice stated,
“The SNP don’t really have to worry about Reform. If you look at the polls, virtually no one who voted for the SNP last summer is going to Reform. Reform are splitting the Unionist vote. The rise of Reform is good news for John Swinney, not that he will admit it.”
The pollster said,
“But the best thing for the SNP would be to regain the independence supporters who were voting for Labour last time. That’s the challenge John Swinney between now and next May,”
adding,
“The SNP vote is up a wee bit from last summer. But the reason the SNP’s electoral prospects have been transformed in the last 12 months is the decline of Labour. Reform have played a role in that decline.”
What did the More in Common survey reveal about Reform UK’s rise?
Ahead of the May 1 election, the More in Common survey reveals that Reform UK is aiming for significant breakthroughs.
The poll revealed that when asked participants who would be the prime minister after the next election, 13% of the public chose the Reform leader.
What did Luke Tryl say about public uncertainty in British politics?
Luke Tryl, the executive director of More in Common UK said,
“This research underscores just how uncertain the public feels about the direction of British politics.”
He stated,
“Only 13 per cent of Britons are confident Keir Starmer will remain in post after the next election, while a striking 41 per cent say they simply don’t know what the next elected government will look like.”
Mr Tryl added,
“In fact, the public rate Nigel Farage’s chances of becoming prime minister as highly as those of the current PM, with Reform voters particularly convinced their man will be walking into Downing Street. It’s yet another sign of the Reform leader’s ability to cast a political shadow far larger than his party’s presence in Westminster.”