Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has claimed the Scottish Greens are more extreme than Reform UK, citing their support for prison abolition and the effective legalisation of heroin and crack cocaine. In an interview with the Press Association, Findlay said the Greens' policies would pose a threat to public safety and exacerbate Scotland's drug death crisis.
Findlay’s comments follow controversy over Kate Nevens, the Green candidate for Edinburgh and Lothians East, who described herself as a prison 'abolitionist' and called for the complete abolition of the prison system. The Scottish Tory leader also criticised the Greens' support for withdrawing from Nato, arguing it would put Scotland in 'grave danger'.
When asked to compare the two parties, Findlay said: 'It’s a tough question. I genuinely think the Greens, if you just look at some of what they are proposing... They would mean murderers and rapists aren’t locked up.' He added that the Greens 'win that contest' for extremism.
Findlay also attacked Reform UK over its recent election campaign materials, including vans depicting migrants on a small boat with the caption 'Scotland is at breaking point'. However, he refused to call a Reform attack ad against Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar racist, stating he had not seen it. The ad implied Sarwar would prioritise the Pakistani community in Scotland.
The Scottish Tory leader accused the SNP of having a 'bitter streak of Anglophobia' and said immigration rows only benefited First Minister John Swinney and Reform. He reiterated his party's commitment to the Union and criticised the SNP's nationalist agenda.
A Scottish Greens spokesperson responded by calling it 'remarkable' that Findlay was 'not embarrassed or ashamed' to lead a party that imposed 14 years of austerity, adding that his party was 'on course for its worst ever election result'. The SNP's Emma Harper also condemned Findlay's remarks.
