SNP's Swinney willing to debate Farage before crucial Holyrood contest
John Swinney accused Labour of having 'given up' on winning a crucial Holyrood by-election as he said he would be willing to hold a debate with Nigel Farage, Reform UK's leader, ahead of next week's vote.
The Scottish First Minister was speaking as the campaign for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse vote entered its final weekend.
With the 'crucial' vote taking place on Thursday June 5, Mr Swinney said backing the SNP candidate means people in the area will 'elect an MSP who will deliver on their priorities'.
He insisted the battle is a 'straight contest' between the SNP and 'the ugly, divisive politics of Nigel Farage' and said he is willing to debate the Reform leader following a similar challenge laid down by Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader.
Labour insisted the by-election – taking place after the death of Scottish government minister Christina McKelvie – is a 'chance to call time on SNP failure and choose a new direction'.
Dame Jackie Baillie, the Scottish Labour deputy leader, insisted only her party can defeat the SNP as Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, visited a factory in the constituency.
She said Reform UK 'can't win' the seat, while adding that the SNP 'does not deserve' to do so.
Dame Jackie said: 'We can see the consequences of SNP incompetence right across this community – people languishing on NHS waiting lists, high-street shops struggling to stay open, and kids not getting the education they deserve.
'It's clear the SNP does not deserve to win this by-election and only Scottish Labour can beat them.'
She added that Reform UK, led by Mr Farage, 'can't win here', declaring: 'This is a direct fight between Scottish Labour and the SNP, no matter how much Reform and the SNP want to pretend otherwise.
'This weekend, Scottish Labour campaigners will be talking to voters the length and breadth of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse so we can deliver a new direction for this community and elect local champion Davy Russell.'
Mr Swinney accepted 'things are really tough right now for many people, with the cost of living a real issue'.
But the First Minister insisted that 'while others shout, the SNP is acting'.
He pointed to action his party is taking at Holyrood to scrap peak-rate rail fares, to pay winter fuel payments to pensioners, and to end the two-child cap on some benefits – a move expected to come in next year.
Mr Swinney added: 'Labour have let people across Scotland down, and they have quite clearly given up on this by-election.
'Thursday's vote is now a straight contest between the SNP and Nigel Farage, and I am urging people to reject the ugly, divisive politics of Nigel Farage and to unite behind the SNP.'
He added: 'I would, of course, debate with Nigel Farage.
'But what's important is that we've got a contest on Thursday, which is an attempt by Farage to insert his politics of racism and poison into Scotland.
'I want to make sure the SNP wins the two-horse race in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.'
Mr Farage is expected to visit the constituency next week to support Reform's candidate, Ross Lambie.
The 41-year-old architect said he believed people were fed up with years of broken promises from opposition parties, which he said were 'panicked' by indications of growing support for his party.
'There's a real sense of urgency among people that things need to change quickly. But what they hear from Labour is that they might turn things around and start cutting taxes in 10 years.
'The SNP released its 19th annual programme for government a few weeks ago and there was nothing exciting in that. So people are actually a bit panicky.
'They feel there's been a lost generation – if you're in your 30s in Scotland, your whole adult life has been in a country with limited economic growth and falling standards in health and education.'
Katy Loudon, the SNP's candidate for the seat, declared if she is voted into Holyrood, she will 'get on with the job from day one'.
She said: 'This by-election is an opportunity to put the priorities of people in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse first, and my promise to local people is this: I will always stand with you, fight for you and deliver for you.'
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