Farage Defends Reform UK Ad Amid Racism Allegations

Nigel Farage has defended a controversial Reform UK advert featuring Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, which has been accused of promoting racism. The online video, shared on Facebook and Instagram ahead of a Holyrood by-election, includes clips from a 2022 speech by Sarwar at a Pakistan independence event. The video adds text suggesting Sarwar aims to “prioritise the Pakistani community,” a claim he did not make in his speech.

At a London press conference, Farage played the advert and asserted that Sarwar introduced “sectarianism” into Scottish politics by focusing on a specific community. He emphasized that Reform UK’s video merely presented Sarwar’s words without commentary. Farage stated, “All we’ve done is to put out the exact words spoken by him without any comment.”

In response, Sarwar condemned the advert as a “blatant attempt” to inject divisiveness into Scottish politics. He rejected the notion that he had prioritized one community over others, highlighting his lifelong opposition to sectarianism. Sarwar, who is of Pakistani Muslim descent, criticized Farage’s approach as fearmongering and divisive.

The controversy has intensified ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse by-election, scheduled for next Thursday. Both Labour and the Scottish National Party have denounced the advert, calling it blatantly racist. The incident underscores ongoing tensions in Scottish politics regarding representation and community engagement.