Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has dismissed as 'a desperate lie from a desperate man' allegations by Reform UK's Scotland leader Malcolm Offord that he sought a deal to keep the SNP out of power. The claim, made during Tuesday's Channel 4 Scottish leaders' debate, has sparked a heated exchange between the parties ahead of the Holyrood elections on 7 May.
Offord alleged that Sarwar approached him at an event in Paisley last December and suggested they 'work together to remove the SNP'. Speaking to reporters after the debate, Offord stood by his account, adding that Sarwar had said: 'At some point we need to get together and talk about how we work together, Reform and Labour, to get rid of the SNP.' A Reform UK candidate, Thomas Kerr, also claimed Sarwar had made similar overtures to him months earlier.
Sarwar vehemently denied the accusations, stating: 'There have been no stitch-ups, no deals, no backroom chats, no back-channel contact with Reform.' He described the claims as 'desperation from a party whose campaign has completely flunked'. The SNP leader and first minister, John Swinney, seized on the controversy, posting the exchange on social media as evidence of Scottish Labour seeking 'a grubby deal'.
The row comes as Reform UK is projected to win up to 10 seats at Holyrood, potentially giving Offord the balance of power. Senior Labour and Liberal Democrat sources insisted they would never court Reform votes, believing Offord would abstain in a vote for first minister, allowing Swinney to retain power. Sarwar, who has faced repeated racist attacks from Reform, highlighted the party's history of offensive remarks, including calls to deport all Muslims, which he said would affect his own children.
Sarwar challenged Swinney's response, saying: 'For John Swinney to jump on this when he is happy to call out Reform's lies and racism elsewhere but somehow chooses to imply we are doing a deal with them when it concerns racism directed at me, is deeply disappointing.' Reform has had a troubled campaign, with five candidates stepping down or being suspended over historical offensive tweets.
