Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has accused Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar of introducing “sectarianism into Scottish politics“.
The comments have come days after Sarwar accused a Reform UK party attack ad of “blatant racism” and of questioning his “identity, loyalty and belonging”.
The ad, which started running on social media ahead of the by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, claims that Sarwar will “prioritise the Pakistani community”.
The clip shows Sarwar delivering a speech in 2022, where he urged more people from Pakistani and South Asian backgrounds to get involved in politics.
In the video, Sarwar said: “Pakistan needs to be represented in every mainstream political party in Scotland and across the UK.”
The clip is edited and Sarwar continues: “The days where the South Asian community gets to lead political parties and gets to lead countries is now upon us.”
Defending the Facebook video on Tuesday, Farage said: “So it was Anas Sarwar that introduced sectarianism into Scottish politics. Making it perfectly clear his priority was to a certain section of the community.
“All we’ve done, all we’ve done is to put out the exact words spoken by him without any comment, we’ve said nothing, just that we will represent the people of that constituency.
He added: “And the fact that they, having chosen to go down the sectarian route, choose to throw accusations back at us, says to me that we are winning.”
Last week, Sarwar accused Reform of “dirty tactics”.
“I have seen it, and it’s a very deliberate dog whistle, which seeks to question my identity, question my loyalty and question my belonging in Scotland,” he said.
“I’m a proud Scot, I was born here, my kids were born here. Every single day, I fight for a better Scotland, regardless of what anyone’s politics might be.”
Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said her SNP Government is focusing on things that “actually make an impact on people”, like mitigating the two child benefit cap, and “leave name calling to Nigel Farage”.
Asked whether or not she thought Reform’s attack add was racist, Somerville said: “I think what Nigel Farage intends to do – as he does every day – is be exceptionally divisive.”
She added: “The really, really lamentable video put up about Anas Sarwar utterly misconstruing anything he’s ever said in the past points to deeply divisive politics. It doesn’t do anyone any favours.”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
