Reform accused of 'thriving on hate' after Perthshire asylum accommodation misinformation

The Reform Party has been accused of “thriving on hate” after a Scottish councillor shared a petition opposing “planned asylum accommodation” at a former Perthshire school.

Rumours spread online that Kilgraston School, near Bridge of Earn, which closed last year and was recently sold to a private developer, was going to be turned into large-scale asylum accommodation.

A petition, which had nearly 600 signatures and has since been removed from Change.org, was launched by a woman who states she is a member of the Reform Party.

South Lanarkshire councillor Ross Lambie, who defected from the Tories earlier this year, reposted the initial tweet urging followers to sign it.

It read: “Worrying news of a huge new facility in Perthshire for Bogus Channel Migrants.”

Owners of the site, Lumar Capital, called the rumours “entirely unfounded and wholly inaccurate”.

The private investors aim to transform the estate and revive its facilities with the help of other operators.

MP for Perth and Kinross, Pete Wishart, believes the false rumours were “deliberately weaponised to stoke fear and division”.

He blamed the Reform Party members for “cynically pushing” the misinformation to “inflame tensions” and “exploit people’s anxieties.”.

He said: “This is exactly the kind of faux outrage and hate-filled politics that Reform thrives on; spreading lies, sowing distrust, and turning neighbour against neighbour.

“It is dangerous, it is reckless, and it has no place in our democracy.”

Councillor Ross Lambie, alongside Nigel Farage Ross Lambie/X

Wishart further stated that Reform Party leader Nigel Farage’s career is built on “fearmongering” and that Brexit, backed by Farage, has made it harder for asylum seekers to be returned to other EU nations.

He has urged constituents to reject Reform’s “hate and mistrust”.

The MP added: “The people of Perth and Kinross are better than this, and I urge everyone to reject this politics of hate and mistrust.

“Our community must not be dragged down by those who profit from poisoning it.”

Reform UK, councillor Ross Lambie and the woman believed to have started the petition have been contacted for comment.