Parties accused of ‘political posturing’ by refusing to engage with Reform

The deputy leader of Reform UK Scotland has accused other parties at Holyrood of “political posturing” by not engaging in talks with the party.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, First Minister John Swinney said he would not be inviting Reform UK to talks at the Scottish Government headquarters in St Andrew’s house.

Previous housing secretary and newly elected SNP MSP for Clydesdale Mairi McAllan doubled down on Mr Swinney’s comments while speaking on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show.

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 won their first seats in the Scottish Parliament, coming in joint second place with Labour after the Holyrood elections.

However, asked if he would have invited Reform in for talks had Labour won the election, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said “no”.

Speaking on the Sunday Show, the Scottish Labour leader 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.

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

“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 said the comments were “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 said Mr Kerr’s comments were “farcical” as she said her party would also not engage with Reform.

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Also 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.”