John Swinney has claimed that an SNP majority in the Scottish election would 'stop Nigel Farage at the border'. The First Minister urged voters to unite behind his party to prevent Reform UK from gaining power at Holyrood.
Swinney, campaigning in southern Scotland, reiterated his accusation that other parties were willing to do a 'grubby deal' with Reform. 'The SNP wants to bring down people's bills, and the other parties led by Reform want to stop us,' he said.
The SNP leader framed the election as a choice between action and obstruction, stating: 'Reform and the other parties want people to vote for an opposition to stop things from happening – I want people to vote for an SNP government to get things done.' He added that his party would 'never do a grubby deal with Nigel Farage and Lord Offord.'
Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain countered that the Lib Dems were 'taking the fight to Reform', highlighting her party's challenge to Malcolm Offord over Farage's comments on handguns. Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton accused Swinney of 'talking up Reform' and argued that her party was best placed to stop an SNP majority.
