Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has urged other political leaders not to spend the next Holyrood parliament “shouting about Nigel Farage”, after Reform UK tied with Labour for second place in the Scottish Parliament elections. The Scottish National Party (SNP) secured a fifth consecutive victory, winning 58 seats, while both Labour and Reform UK ended up with 17 MSPs each, marking Labour’s worst result since devolution in 1999.
Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Sarwar said he did not believe Reform’s intention was to do anything more than create division, and he pledged to work with other parties that share his views to provide a credible opposition. He refused to comment on speculation about Keir Starmer’s future as Labour leader or his own position, stating: “I’ve got a job to do and I intend to do it.”
The results mean Reform’s Scottish leader, Malcolm Offord, now has the right to ask the opening questions at First Minister’s Questions, alternating with Sarwar, and Reform could secure committee convenership posts. This is the first time Holyrood has had to navigate two parties coming joint second.
The SNP is seven seats short of a majority, requiring support from other parties to pass legislation. SNP leader John Swinney has ruled out working with Reform, saying he will not invite its representatives to Bute House for talks. Reform’s deputy leader in Scotland, Thomas Kerr, accused Swinney and Sarwar of “political posturing” and called their stance “anti-democratic”.
Reform has ruled out further defections from the Tories to augment its group, with Offord stating: “We’re happy with the 17 that we’ve got.” Kerr also defended newly elected MSP Senga Beresford, who previously expressed support for Tommy Robinson and the deportation of Muslims, claiming her posts were taken out of context.
