Reform UK leader Lord Offord and Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie.
by Bill Heaney
Reform can only help the SNP cling on for another dismal decade in power, Scottish Labour has warned.
In a desperate attempt to distract from the Jordan Linden scandal, John Swinney has sought to talk up Reform as he seeks to use Lord Offord’s party as a route to being re-elected as First Minister.
Meanwhile, Reform has already had to ditch five Scottish Parliament candidates since launching their campaign less than two weeks ago, and Lord Offord has had to defend telling a homophobic joke he made during an after-dinner speech.
And the Scottish Conservatives have already given up on the prospect of defeating the SNP, making a pitiful promise only to prevent an SNP majority at the parliament.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “This election is a straight fight between John Swinney and Anas Sarwar. All Reform does is generate noise – they are not a credible party, and they are not capable of removing the SNP from power.
“In fact, they will only help prop up the dismal, failing, and tired SNP for another term in government. That is a disaster for our public services, including our NHS, and paves the way for the SNP to push for another divisive independence referendum.
“We cannot afford to allow the SNP back into power. Reform and the Scottish Tories are fighting among themselves for votes, but both have already accepted that the SNP will win the election. We do not share that defeatist approach.
“Scottish Labour is the only party that is campaigning with the ambition to boot out the SNP after 19 years in power, and to install Anas Sarwar as First Minister.
“That is the choice that people have in front of them in this election – another decade of the SNP, or a new direction with Scottish Labour.”