Reform urges Sarwar to back Offord as first minister

Reform UK has urged Anas Sarwar to back their leader in Scotland to be first minister.

A major poll released by More in Common on Monday suggested the unionist parties could hold the majority in Holyrood after the May 7 election, meaning a cross-party coalition could oust John Swinney from Bute House.

In a statement released on Monday, Malcolm Offord said Reform UK MSPs would not support a push from Anas Sarwar to be first minister and pushed the Labour leader to back his bid for the top job.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie accused Lord Offord of a “laughably desperate bid for attention”.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has also ruled out his party working with Reform, effectively scuppering any chances of Lord Offord making it to Bute House based on the poll.

The multi-level regression with post-stratification (MRP) poll spoke to more than 5,000 Scots between February 4 and April 10, and put Reform in second place on 22 seats, behind the SNP’s 56, with Labour in third place on 17 MSPs.

“This poll reflects exactly what Reform is picking up on the doors – momentum,” Lord Offord said.

“We are now Scotland’s only challenger to this rotten SNP Government.

“There is now a key question for Scotland’s other unionist parties – will they back a Reform-led Government or stick with failure under the SNP?

“It is abundantly clear now that Anas Sarwar will not be first minister.

“The only way that would happen is if all unionist parties backed him in a coalition and we at Reform are categorically rule out supporting a Labour Party that no longer supports workers and doesn’t share our ambition to make Scotland the most prosperous part of the United Kingdom.

“So, we ask Mr Sarwar, will you back a Reform government or will you let this country suffer another five years of the SNP?”

The public relationship has been acrimonious in the past year, heightened by ads described as “racist” run by Reform during a Holyrood by-election about Mr Sarwar.

The Scottish Labour leader has been forced to deny claims from Lord Offord that he approached him at a TV appearance last year and said they would have to “work together” to oust the SNP.

Mr Sarwar dismissed the Reform leader in Scotland as a “liar” following the claim, which was made during a televised debate last week.

Dame Jackie said: “This is a laughably desperate bid for attention from a party that has already admitted it can’t win this election.

“Scottish Labour is the only party that can beat the SNP and Anas Sarwar is the only person who can replace John Swinney.

“Reform wants to wage war on workers’ rights and cut the minimum wage, and Scotland will see right through their flimsy con act.

“Lord Offord and Reform have nothing to offer the people of Scotland and no chance of beating the SNP – all this Tory tribute act can do is help the SNP.”

SNP campaign director Angus Robertson said: “It is absolutely clear that only the SNP are strong enough to beat Reform across the country – and that Labour are plotting a grubby deal with Nigel Farage’s party after the election.

“Reform are too dangerous to be allowed any influence in Scotland’s Parliament.

“That is why we are asking people in Scotland to unite behind the SNP and to deliver a majority that will unlock the fresh start of independence and lock Nigel Farage out of power.”