Reform 'becoming opposition' to SNP after Scottish by-election
The right-wing politician leapt on a boost in support for his party during the Clydebank Waterfront by-election, after results were declared in the early hours of Friday morning.
While the SNP's Kevin Crawford won the seat with 1331 first-preference votes, Reform candidate David Smith came second with 919 first-preference votes.
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This meant the SNP won 36% of the vote share (-16), with Reform picking up 26%. Scottish Labour came third with 770 votes (25%). The Scottish LibDems picked up 167 votes, the Scottish Tories 87, and the Scottish Greens 83.
On Friday morning, Farage boasted on Twitter/X: 'Reform is becoming the opposition to the SNP.'
The post had more than 30,000 views and hundreds of likes less than an hour after it was posted.
The response on the social media website was mixed.
Reform is becoming the opposition to the SNP. https://t.co/2USVTF8rBM — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) May 16, 2025
'Reform will change this country,' one said, with another adding: 'Tories are absolutely finished.'
Elsewhere, another user said: 'I am so sorry for Scotland. Apparently it lost its dignity to the egoistic English nationalism. R.I.P.'
The SNP has been contacted for comment.
It comes as Farage is set to visit Scotland in June ahead of a key Holyrood by-election.
He is set to travel north days before the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse vote, where Councillor Ross Lambie is hoping to take the seat for the party.
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