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The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
'Voters feel ignored & betrayed by Scotland's political establishment'
This seems barely believable. I'd always imagined Reform to be a peculiarly English political force feeding mainly on the racial tensions that swirl south of the Border and which have never really been a feature of Scottish society. What gives in this region which had only lately been annexed in the devolved era by the SNP following generations of largely Labour control? Why are decent, cautious, working-class Scots, traditionally suspicious about end-of-the-pier chancers like Nigel Farage, now shuffling towards the party he leads? Read more We've been joined by Thomas Kerr, the most high-profile of recent Scottish Tory defections to Reform. Kerr, formerly head of the Conservative group on Glasgow City Council, is fresh from a lively appearance on BBC Scotland's Debate Night. There, he'd been harangued by representatives of the main parties who've all been quite palpably spooked by these upstarts. 'We're sensing an urgency among voters that something needs to be done to address their real problems and challenges, none of which are currently being addressed by Labour and the SNP,' says Lambie. 'There's growing resentment at the amount of money and time being spent on meeting Net Zero targets which are of only peripheral concern to families here, while NHS waiting lists get longer. They feel ignored by Scotland's political establishment.' Within minutes we're approached by an elderly lady. An exchange ensues which couldn't have been more telling than if it had been scripted. She's been a lifelong Labour voter but now feels 'betrayed by their attack on the winter fuel payment'. When she learns that Reform have pledged to restore this and to scrap the two-child benefit cap, she says the magic words: 'I'd consider voting for you.' A second woman stops for a chat. She didn't know much about Reform and had voted SNP at the last election, but she's keen to talk. 'I grew up in the Blackwood estate,' he tells her. 'Oh, my mum grew up there too,' she says. The candidate is keen not to be too vociferous in criticising his political opponents, sensing that such an approach is often counter-productive. 'They've had 18 years,' he says, 'and they haven't improved anything in this community.' She isn't disagreeing and I'm putting her down as a 'maybe'. In the course of the next two hours not a single person has declared for Labour or the SNP, but several are inclining towards Reform. 'What Labour voters are telling us follows a pattern,' he says. 'There's an overall feeling of betrayal. They're absolutely raging about what they see as an attack on pensioners over the heating allowance. Kevin McKenna joins Reform UK candidate Ross Lambie canvassing in Larkhall (Image: GordonTerris) 'The way the WASPI women have also been treated is also raised and they've clearly turned against Keir Starmer as a person. They also feel they've been taken for granted and when they find that we've pledged to lift the two-child benefit cap they're taking an interest in us.' As the afternoon progresses and a few more people stop to chat, I realise I am witnessing in real-time the worst nightmare of the Scottish Tories and the Scottish mainstream Left. Once, when Labour voters wanted to send a sharp message to their party they might have parked their votes temporarily with the Lib-Dems and maybe the Greens. In places like this, though, many now view these parties along with the SNP and elements in Labour as middle-class elites who can't hide their loathing for communities like these. For Labour, it's an even worse nightmare. These are their people, generations of whom backed them in the expectation Labour would always fight for their jobs and better services while providing a safety net for them in sickness, unemployment and old age. Labour, in turn, were comfortable in the knowledge that many in places like these could never vote for the Tories. But what if another party would came along with candidates raised in this community who weren't posh? A party like Reform would be the ethical alternative to voting Tory. Working-class people needn't apologise for choosing them. I also sense a dawning realisation amongst some of these voters that Scotland's governing party has been hijacked by a cohort who loathe the people who live in places like Larkhall and North Ayrshire and some of Glasgow's edgier neighbourhoods where family, faith and tradition have always maintained social cohesion and community. Reform candidate Ross Lambie canvassing (Image: Gordon Terris) Lambie rejects my suggestion that Reform's suite of newly-minted policies around social welfare are a bit opportunistic. 'Look, we want to have high birth rates in this country and to support families. It's all about choices. There's a sense that the ruling elite at Holyrood would prefer to prioritise a Net Zero obsession which contributes nothing to the lives of these people. 'What's also pleasing is that our support is not breaking along tribal or sectarian lines. We're receiving indications of approval, if not outright support, from people of all party political traditions who, for different reasons, all feel let down by the parties they've always voted for. They're willing to consider Reform because they sense we're actually listening to them instead of merely pretending.' When he talks about Net Zero he's on solid ground. Lambie says he's a successful architect who says he doesn't need to do politics. 'Once you strip out all the Net Zero requirements in building regulations it reduces the average price of a house by £30,000,' he says. 'The drive for reaching Net Zero punishes people who are striving to make a good life for themselves amidst rising living costs and wages which haven't caught up with them. Are our birth rates are so low because people don't have the confidence to start families? Is it because they don't feel good about our education system or flexible working patterns that would support making families?' There's a curious anomaly at work here, though. The falling birth rates present major social problems as baby-boomers approach old age. It's a gap that can be plugged by immigrant labour, but not when Nigel Farage is talking about Anas Sarwar's ethnicity after the Scottish Labour leader's calls for more Pakistani Scots to become involved in politics. This, after all, was the messaging of white, Catholic Irish immigrants in the post-war era: 'Get educated, get promoted, become influential.' Just what is it about Sarwar's messaging that seemed to have upset Nigel Farage so much? I sense that both Ross Lambie and Thomas Kerr are exasperated by Farage's comments. After all, Reform are doing a decent job of picking up disaffected Labour votes without making race an issue. I press Lambie on this. Farage's comments seem to covey something ugly. Read more 'I meet people like you and Thomas,' I tell him, 'and you both seem to be sound. But you must have winced when he starts talking about people's ethnic heritage. A lot of the people you want to level up are minorities who've previously been kept down: Black, Asian, Chinese, Afro-Caribbean, Gypsy, Irish...' Mr Lambie chooses his words carefully, managing to distance himself from his leader's comments without overtly criticising him. 'I absolutely agree with you,' he says. 'Reform's position on this has always been that we believe in merit. People should get promotion and work on merit. It should not matter what age they are, whether a man or a woman, or what ethnicity they are. 'Whereas SNP and Labour, they have gone down this rabbit hole of DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] and want to try and socially engineer the make up of companies and governments and councils. We just do not believe in that. 'You judge Reform based on the people in it like me, from a working-class background. My parents are from the council estate just down the road.' At this point, Thomas Kerr is trying to source a couple of copies of the Daily Record. On today's front page it carries a picture of John Swinney and his personal message to voters: 'Labour can't win this by-election so if you want to beat Reform the only way to stop them is vote SNP.' It's a clumsy and desperate stunt transmitting fear. Today, in these streets, there's a growing sense of voting Reform to stop the SNP. Kevin McKenna is a Herald writer and columnist and is Scottish Feature Writer of the Year. This year is his 40th in newspapers. Among his paltry list of professional achievements is that he's never been approached by any political party or lobbying firm to be on their payroll.
Spectator
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Can Reform conquer Scotland?
Dissatisfaction with the established political parties is driving a 'tartan bounce' in Scotland for Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Far from being an English phenomenon, Reform is polling favourably with Scottish voters. There will be a by-election next week for the Scottish Parliament seat of Hamilton, in what will be Reform's first big test inside the politics of devolved government. For councillor Thomas Kerr, who defected from the Scottish Conservatives to Reform earlier this year, Reform's appeal in Scotland is no surprise. He joins Lucy Dunn to explain why he thinks the 'sky is the limit' for Reform, why Farage is an asset to the party in Scotland and to explain Reform's current views around devolution powers. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
Glasgow Times
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Reform UK says membership in Scotland has topped 10,000
The party, which claims to have more members in Scotland than the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Alba, announced the 'milestone' in membership as it came third in the Glenrothes and Thornton council by-election in Fife. SNP came first with Labour in second place. (Image: Image: Newsquest) The party, which does not currently have a Scottish leader, also said it will run in the Holyrood by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse on June 5. It comes after the death of Scottish Government minister, Christina McKelvie. Polls have indicated Reform could return a number of MSPs in next May's Scottish Parliament election. (Image: Image of Thomas Kerr) Thomas Kerr, a Glasgow councillor who defected from the Tories to join Reform, said the rise in membership is 'just the beginning'. He added: 'Across Scotland, people are rejecting tired ideologies and career politicians who talk about change but deliver none. 'Reform is the voice of the people, clear, bold and unapologetic in standing up for common sense, fairness, and freedom. 'The political class may sneer, hold summits, and call us names, but the voters are speaking louder, and we are listening."
The National
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Reform UK 'Scotland's third largest party with 10,000 members'
Nigel Farage's party issued a statement on Friday afternoon claiming that having 10,000 Scottish members was a 'milestone that cements the party's growing influence and deepening roots across the country'. The SNP, Scotland's largest party, had 58,940 members as of December 31, 2024. Scottish Labour numbers are not routinely published, but in 2021 the Daily Record reported that they had 16,467. In April 2023, the Greens said they had 7646 members – but reported a 'surge' in membership the following year without giving details. In September 2024, the Scottish Tory leadership election revealed that the party had 6941 members. At the time, reports said this meant the Alba Party had more members, with their accounts reporting 7507. The Scottish LibDems had 4185 members in December 2020. Their 2023 accounts did not specify an updated number, but noted that 'membership figures continue to decline'. Reform UK councillor Thomas Kerr, who defected from the Tories in January, said of his new parties' membership numbers: "This is just the beginning. Across Scotland, people are rejecting tired ideologies and career politicians who talk about change but deliver none. 'Reform is the voice of the people, clear, bold, and unapologetic in standing up for common sense, fairness, and freedom. The political class may sneer, hold summits, and call us names, but the voters are speaking louder, and we are listening." In a release issued to media, Reform UK claimed: 'While the political elites resort to smear campaigns and tired 'anti-far right' theatre to distract from their own failures, the people of Scotland are seeing through it. 'Reform UK isn't extreme – we're the only party standing up for freedom, fairness, and the forgotten majority.' Earlier this week, First Minister John Swinney had convened a summit in Glasgow to discuss how to tackle the rise of the far-right and Reform UK.
The National
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Full mission statement agreed at John Swinney's anti-far-right summit
The First Minister described the pledge as demonstrating a "strength of unity". Reform UK were not invited to the summit, although former Tory councillor Thomas Kerr – who defected to Farage's party in January and was present at the protest – said he would not have attended. Sarwar joined Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton at the summit, along with a host of civic and religious leaders. Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay refused to attend by saying he would only do so if the SNP changed their policy of supporting independence. READ MORE: 'Not far right': Holocaust denier leads small protest at anti-far-right summit Across the day, there were discussions, moderated by civic leaders, on four key themes which are believed to be contributing to a breakdown in democratic trust, including: combating inequality and discrimination tackling disinformation and ensuring a trusted media environment enhancing trust in politics and boosting the accountability of political leaders and democratic institutions strengthening vigilance to electoral interference and encouraging more active democratic participation Following discussions, participants considered a mission statement that seeks to provide a framework that can underpin specific actions and solutions to help tackle some of the issues identified. The full statement reads: Today, we reaffirm our commitment to safeguard Scotland's democracy. We recognise many people in our country feel distant from politics or failed by society. They feel unheard and disempowered. We recognise also that much of our public discourse has become polarised and soured. Our starting point has been a recognition of that reality and, alongside this, a recognition also that the solutions, which will be manifold and complex, require a collective response. We have a shared responsibility to map a way forward for Scotland, which is why we are committed to working together to ensure that our democratic structures evolve to meet our democratic ideals and are both trusted and robust. There are certain fundamental principles and values that are already part of our understanding of Scottish democracy, rooted in the creation of the Scottish Parliament, that we believe should shape and guide our work. These are: Participation and openness The sharing of power Accountability Equal opportunity We stand together on these principles and values, recognising that they offer both a foundation on which to build and markers to guide this next stage of our nation's democratic journey. I pledge my support. Speaking after the event, Swinney said: 'Our discussion was incredibly powerful and equally inspiring. I am grateful to the many representatives from across Scottish society who shared their honest reflections on the challenges we face, alongside their absolute determination to work together to ensure we stand up for the values and principles we hold so dear. READ MORE: SNP MP tears into Labour Cabinet in fiery Scottish independence exchange at PMQs 'Today's event is a pivotal moment for Scotland as we demonstrate our shared commitment to democracy but to make that a reality, we must now work at pace to ensure targeted action delivers results. By coming together, we have started that process, with all participants committed to developing actions that can address some of the root causes of the challenges facing our country. "I pledge my government's absolute support for that work, to ensure we leave no stone unturned in identifying solutions and empowering the disempowered who so often feel left behind. 'We can only protect the rights of each citizen, if we protect, strengthen and renew our democratic values. By reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding democracy in Scotland, we have demonstrated a strength of unity which will guide us in our actions.'
