8 hours ago
Nigel Farage U-turns on plan to scrap all MSPs and put Scottish MPs in Holyrood instead
The Reform UK leader once wanted a watered down parly when he bossed the Ukip party
U-TURN Nigel Farage U-turns on plan to scrap all MSPs and put Scottish MPs in Holyrood instead
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NIGEL Farage has U-turned on a plan to scrap all MSPs and put Scottish MPs in Holyrood instead.
The Reform UK leader wanted a watered down parly when he bossed the Ukip party — but now concedes 'devolution is here to stay'.
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Nigel Farage says devolution is here to stay
Credit: Getty
But he told The Scottish Sun: 'I don't think you can turn the clock back. We're not going to reverse devolution.'
Mr Farage previously wanted to axe our parliament as we know it and put Scotland's Westminster politicians in there when they decide on Scottish-only matters.
Reform surged to third in last week's Hamilton by-election — fewer than 1,500 votes behind winners Labour.
Farage — bookies' favourite to be the next PM — hit out at 'excesses of the Scottish Parliament' such as whopping construction costs and 'the fact that it's really failed quite badly to deliver on some of its key objectives — education in particular, and health'.
He said: 'The job now is to make sure it's done better.'
Reform grabbed 26.1 per cent of the vote last week, the SNP 29.4 per cent and Labour 31.6 per cent.
Farage's party is tipped to grab at least a dozen MSPs at the 2026 election — but has been criticised for a lack of devolved policies.
Asked how his party would spend £10billion if they had power in Scotland, Mr Farage said: 'What about creating money? What about creating wealth and jobs? What about upping the average income of people living in Scotland? That's my priority.'
Reform has published a one-page, 200-word 'position paper' which states: 'We have a vision where personal liberty and free speech are respected and promoted, support is available when needed, but life is largely untrammelled by government interference.'
It also plugs 'traditional Scottish values' like 'integrity, thrift, hard work and tolerance'.
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On independence, it says Scotland should stay as a 'full and respected member of the UK
