Latest news with #JohnSwinney
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- General
- Yahoo
Farage has brought ‘racism and hatred' to Hamilton by-election, says Swinney
Nigel Farage has been accused of 'racism and hatred' by John Swinney in the last weekend of campaigning before polls open in the Hamilton by-election. The Scottish First Minster hit out at the Reform UK leader, claiming he was a 'real threat' ahead of voting in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on Thursday. Criticism has been levelled at Mr Farage's party after a Facebook ad claimed Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was prioritising Pakistani people over Scots and included a section of a speech in which he encouraged more people from south Asian backgrounds to enter politics. Addressing activists – including a number of MSPs, former MPs and candidates for the 2026 Holyrood election – in Hamilton on Saturday, Mr Swinney contrasted Reform UK with former minister Christina McKelvie, whose death prompted the by-election. 'This is a by-election that none of us wanted to be fighting, because it meant that we'd lost somebody we loved, Christina McKelvie, who was an individual that represented generosity, tolerance and inclusion,' he said. 'That was how she went about her work in this constituency and in Parliament, and that's the antithesis of what's been brought into this by-election campaign by the politics of Nigel Farage, who's brought racism and hatred right into the heart of this community, and it is repugnant. 'We are going to stand up to it in every way we can.' In response to journalists, the First Minister said he was not concerned about defamation claims stemming from his allegations of racism against Mr Farage. When the by-election was called, it was widely seen as a two-horse race between the SNP's Katy Loudon and Labour's Davy Russell, but recent weeks have seen a surge in fortune for Mr Farage's party. Speaking to the PA news agency after his speech, the First Minister said it is 'very clear' that Labour is 'out of this contest' and it is now 'between the SNP and Farage'. 'I want to make sure that Farage's politics don't get any hold in Scotland, they are damaging,' he said. In his speech, the First Minister repeatedly referenced Mr Farage, but when asked if he was increasing the chance of Reform gaining a foothold by paying the party's leader so much attention, Mr Swinney said: 'I've just got to make sure that people in this constituency are aware of the threat that Farage poses in this election. 'If Farage gets in here, then you know the agenda of NHS privatisation is what will follow, the agenda of undermining the Scottish Parliament will follow, because that's what he believes in.' Elsewhere in Hamilton on Saturday, Reform UK's candidate Ross Lambie gathered activists ahead of a canvassing session, including some bussed into the constituency from the north of England. Speaking to journalists, Mr Lambie was asked why the parties believed to be the frontrunners at the beginning of the campaign were spending so much time on Reform. 'They're doing their canvassing and they're getting the same results as we are, that's why,' he said. He added: 'We are super proud that we're not being pigeon-holed with any particular voter and we're not being boxed into certain aspects of the community. 'We're getting votes from across the area. 'If you were to chat to these volunteers, you'll find some of them were SNP voters in the past, many of them were Labour voters, Conservative voters. 'So that's the thing we're most proud of, that we're breaking down those old barriers in Scottish politics.' Mr Sarwar said Labour is still in the race for the seat in Thursday's vote. 'It's between ourselves and the SNP, every single vote is going to count,' he told PA on Saturday. 'That's why, if you want to beat the SNP, if you want a local champion, if you want to start that pathway to a new direction, the best way of doing that is to vote for one of your own – vote for Davy Russell.' The Labour leader also accused the First Minister of 'talking up Reform for a very, very long time', an assertion Mr Swinney rejects, while saying he would 'call out Nigel Farage's poison'.
STV News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
Reform ‘can't win' Hamilton and SNP do not deserve to, Sarwar says
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said that Reform UK 'can't win' the Hamilton by-election, and the SNP does not deserve to. In an open letter to voters in the Daily Record, the party leader rejected claims that Thursday's vote will come down to the parties led by John Swinney and Nigel Farage, claiming Labour was in a 'two-horse race' with the SNP. The claim was made in a similar letter in the same newspaper this week, in which the First Minister said the race was a 'straight contest' between his party and Reform, accusing Farage of being a 'clear and present danger to our country.' 'Reform's poison won't win here,' the Scottish Labour leader wrote. 'The SNP deserve to lose.' He added: 'Don't believe the spin and the nonsense of John Swinney – this by-election is a two-horse race between Scottish Labour and the SNP.' After the June 5 vote was called following the death of Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie in March, Labour and the SNP were the frontrunners, but Reform's surge in the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse seats has propelled the party into the mix. Accusing the SNP leader of using Reform as a 'mask for his failure,' Sarwar criticised Farage's party's tactics. A Facebook ad from the party showing a speech given by Sarwar encouraging more people of Pakistani origin to enter politics has been roundly criticised. Sarwar said: 'Throughout this by-election campaign, Reform have tried every dirty trick in the book to drive a wedge to divide this community – but I know you will see right through it. 'They know they can't win – they don't care about beating the SNP, all they care about is getting attention. 'Nigel Farage is a poisonous, pathetic, and toxic little man who doesn't understand this community or our country. 'He and his cronies in Reform have spent thousands of pounds spreading bile, misinformation and racial slurs. 'Scotland is my home. I was born here.' The Scottish Labour leader also touted his party's candidate Davy Russell, who has himself been criticised for a perceived lack of appearances in the media. Russell, he said, is the only candidate in the race who can 'beat the SNP'. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Anas Sarwar - Reform 'can't win' Hamilton by-election and SNP 'don't deserve to'
The war of words is escalating ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on Thursday. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Reform UK 'can't win' the Hamilton by-election and the SNP do not deserve to, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said. In an open letter to voters published in a newspaper this morning, the party leader rejected claims that Thursday's vote will come down to the parties led by John Swinney and Nigel Farage, claiming Labour was in a 'two-horse race' with the SNP. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Sarwar's comments follow a similar letter this week, where the First Minister said the race was a 'straight contest' between his party and Reform, accusing Mr Farage of being a 'clear and present danger to our country'. Mr Sarwar, in his letter, said: 'Reform's poison won't win here. The SNP deserve to lose.' The letters from both political leaders were published in the Daily Record. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Sarwar said: 'Don't believe the spin and the nonsense of John Swinney – this by-election is a two-horse race between Scottish Labour and the SNP.' After the June 5 vote was called following the death of Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie in March, Labour and the SNP were the frontrunners, but the surge from Reform in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seat has propelled the party into the mix. Accusing the SNP leader of using Reform as a 'mask for his failure', Mr Sarwar criticised the tactics of Mr Farage's party. A Facebook ad from the party showing a speech given by Mr Sarwar encouraging more people of Pakistani origin into politics has been roundly criticised. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Sarwar said: 'Throughout this by-election campaign, Reform have tried every dirty trick in the book to drive a wedge to divide this community – but I know you will see right through it. 'They know they can't win – they don't care about beating the SNP, all they care about is getting attention. 'Nigel Farage is a poisonous, pathetic and toxic little man that doesn't understand this community or our country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He and his cronies in Reform have spent thousands of pounds spreading bile, misinformation and racial slurs. 'Scotland is my home. I was born here.' The Scottish Labour leader also touted his party's candidate Davy Russell, who has himself been criticised for a perceived lack of appearances in the media.
The Courier
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Courier
Has Levenmouth rail link changed town's fortunes a year after opening in fanfare of celebration?
It's a year since the £116 million Levenmouth rail link opened in a fanfare of celebration and publicity. It includes two stations at Leven and Cameron Bridge, with direct trains to and from Edinburgh every half hour. The official opening by First Minister John Swinney marked the first trains to the area in 55 years. And more than 300,000 journeys have been made since. Tourists are already arriving, Leven beach is noticeably busier and the property market is said to be buoyant. However, 12 months in, there's a feeling the area is just at the start of its regeneration journey with a lot more still to come. A year ago, we spoke to local businesses and community members about their hopes for Levenmouth once the rail link opened. We've now gone back to ask if they have been realised. Community council chairwoman Teresa Watson says Leven is definitely busier. 'Leven is kind of buzzing at the moment,' she said. 'Lots of new businesses are popping up, which suggests more footfall. 'There's a new tapas bar, Collier's Coffee has moved to bigger premises and the old Cumming's shop is back in use.' An air of positivity has led to more events being organised in Leven this year. And the annual Promfest, which Teresa helps stage, is also back for another year. 'Last year a huge number of people came to Promfest by train and it was busier than ever,' she said. 'The only complaints I've heard is there aren't enough carriages on the trains and people are having to stand. 'That shows the services are being well-used.' Ayshea and Michael Morris run Beachcomber Amusements on Leven Promenade. And they invested in their business ahead of the railway's opening, remodelling the front of the arcade and installing new machines. Michael says the railway is a boost but there is more to do. 'There's a lot more foreign tourism,' he says. 'I'm hearing French, German and Spanish accents. 'While that's maybe more to do with the economy, it feels positive. 'Locals themselves are more positive, with many suddenly realising what's on their own doorstep. 'It's definitely put us on the map and connected us back to the rest of Scotland. 'But things like the sea defences still need to be fixed and there are other bits and pieces still to be done. 'All of that will take a bit of time but we're going in the right direction.' Leven estate agent Jim Parker mentions the Levenmouth rail link in every property advert. And he believes it is helping to attract buyers. 'Elsewhere, the top end of the market is struggling but Leven seems to be buoyant,' he says. 'I think that's a direct result of the train. 'I didn't think it would be so quick but it's apparent the effect it's had.' Jim, of Fife Properties, added: 'We always mention the direct line to Edinburgh. 'Why would you even live in Edinburgh and pay that money for a huge property when you can have a better quality of life in a seaside town and commute?' While the Levenmouth rail link opened on time, some of the infrastructure around it is not complete. A bridge across the River Leven at Mountfleurie has yet to open and a river pathway and ponds are not in place. Leven sea wall, badly damaged by a storm in 2023, has also still to be fixed, although funding is now finally in place. Councillor Colin Davidson, convener of the council's Levenmouth area committee, regrets the time taken to finish those projects. However he added: 'It's a work in progress. 'We're in a state of flux but we're moving forward with the investment. 'The railway is there and I think it's been very positive. But it's just the start. 'The number of people coming to Levenmouth has increased and people in general are feeling upbeat about it.'
The National
7 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Dundee travel firm to auction off 10 buses after closing
The Dundee-based coach company, Fisher Tours, announced last week it would cease operating, with more than 20 staff members being made redundant. It has been reported that no formal liquidator or administrator has been named, and that drivers and mechanics with the now closed firm are still waiting for answers regarding unpaid wages, holiday entitlement, and redundancy settlements. Fishers Tours has now put 10 of its coaches on the auction website Sweeney Kincaid, which is due to go live in June. READ MORE: Labour has 'given up' on by-election amid SNP-Reform contest, says John Swinney Last Monday, drivers and mechanics were reportedly 'stunned' after they were informed that the company would cease trading on Friday, the same week. Fishers Tours had several long-standing contracts with local councils, including transportation agreements to take pupils to and from schools in Dundee and Angus, and is one of the biggest private coach hire companies in the area. According to The Courier, former staff at the firm were told pension payments had allegedly not been made by Fishers since the beginning of the year and that they were still waiting for answers regarding the company's liquidation. 'We're all still in limbo,' one driver told The Courier. 'We left on Friday with no paperwork and no replies to any of our emails asking for the information we need. 'This includes who the administrators are, what will happen to holidays and wages due, a letter of redundancy confirmation or pensions information. 'There are no case numbers yet, to apply for money owed. We were told there would be administrators by Tuesday morning. This hasn't happened. 'Now there are more than 20 lads all panicking. It's an absolute joke. 'All the buses were removed from the yard on Monday. 'How long do we have to wait? It's an absolute shambles.'
