Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is set to hold a major political rally in Falkirk on Saturday, an event that has drawn sharp criticism from Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, who has accused the veteran campaigner of seeking to 'whip up hate'. The gathering marks a significant step as Reform UK intensifies its campaign for the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections.
Political Tensions Rise in Central Scotland
The choice of Falkirk as the rally's location is highly charged. The town has been the focal point of regular anti-immigration protests outside the Cladhan Hotel, which is currently being used to house asylum seekers. These demonstrations have frequently been organised by a group named Save Our Future and Our Kids Futures, which argues that local residents demand action following alleged crimes by individuals accommodated at the hotel.
In response, a counter-group called Falkirk for All, which has staged opposing demonstrations, plans to hold a 'unity march' through the town centre on the same Saturday. This sets the stage for a day of contrasting political expressions in the heart of Scotland.
A War of Words Escalates
The political rhetoric has intensified in the lead-up to the event. Mr Swinney, who leads the SNP, had previously described comments from Mr Farage about Glasgow schoolchildren as 'simply racist'. This referred to a social media video in which the Reform UK leader claimed that one in three schoolchildren in Glasgow does not speak English as a first language.
In a strongly worded statement ahead of the rally, the First Minister dismissed Mr Farage's motives. 'Nigel Farage has no interest in people in Falkirk or anywhere else in Scotland,' Mr Swinney said. 'Farage needs to understand that communities in Scotland are not props to be used in his political games.'
He further characterised the visit as disingenuous, stating: 'For a multi-millionaire Thatcherite from the heart of the Westminster establishment to come to Falkirk and try and pretend to be on the side of working people is a complete joke.' Mr Swinney vowed that the SNP would 'face him down' and promote an alternative vision focused on hope and using Scotland's resources to benefit its people.
Broader Political Condemnation
The criticism extends beyond the SNP. Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman, who will join the 'unity' march, issued a stern rebuke of Reform UK's politics. 'Reform represents the very worst of politics,' she stated. Ms Chapman connected Mr Farage's rhetoric to recent reports of record donations from wealthy backers, arguing that his 'racist attacks on children must not become normalised'.
She warned that the spread of such messages leads to 'more pain and anxiety for migrant communities, people of colour and others who are targeted by prejudice and bigotry'. Reform UK Scotland hit back online, labelling the First Minister's rhetoric as 'unhinged'.
The Falkirk rally on Saturday 6th December 2025 therefore represents more than a standard campaign stop. It is a flashpoint in the evolving political landscape of Scotland, highlighting deep divisions on issues of immigration, community, and political discourse as the battle for Holyrood begins in earnest.
