Sarwar blames Scottish Government ‘failure’ for the rise of right-wing politics
Scottish Government “failures” have contributed to the rise of Nigel Farage, Anas Sarwar said, as he branded the Reform UK leader the “ultimate snake oil salesman”.
While Scotland has not yet seen any Reform UK politicians elected, Mr Sarwar insisted there must be “no complacency” from parties here in dealing with the rise of the right.
And while the matter was discussed at a summit held by First Minister John Swinney last week, the Scottish Labour leader blamed the SNP in part for the growing popularity of parties such as Reform UK.
Speaking to trade union leaders in Dundee, Mr Sarwar spoke out against the “rise of the politics of division, embodied by the ultimate snake oil salesman and easy answer politician, Nigel Farage and Reform UK”.
He insisted: “We shouldn’t sit in some kind of comfortable bubble here in Scotland, thinking that somehow we’re immune to the politics of division or the politics of the far-right or the politics of Reform UK.”
But claiming that Mr Swinney “doesn’t get it”, he went on to link the rise of Reform to the “daily failure” of the Scottish Government to deliver for votes.
Mr Sarwar, addressing the Scottish Trades Union Congress annual congress, insisted: “The truth is I don’t believe John Swinney and the Scottish Government get it.
“I don’t think they understand what everyone in this room understands – that is, that the rise of reactionary and divisive politics is absolutely and intrinsically linked to the daily failure of those in power here to deliver for the people of our country.”
The best way to stop people going to the politics of division and the far-right is for governments to improve people’s lives, that is the fundamental challenge facing us
He said that until that “fundamental challenge” is addressed, “we will not tackle divisive politics in our society”.
Mr Sarwar said: “We have to end the failure to support our public services, the failure to tackle inequality and the failure ultimately to make life better for the people politics is supposed to serve.
“The best way to stop people going to the politics of division and the far-right is for governments to improve people’s lives, that is the fundamental challenge facing us.”
The Labour leader’s comments came as he insisted that “the root cause of so many of our challenges is failures of the Scottish Government”.
He said that after almost two decades of SNP rule in Scotland, Mr Swinney’s party had now “lost its way”, as he accused ministers of “undermining” Scottish industry.
Mr Sarwar said: “It’s not just that the Scottish Government hasn’t got an industrial strategy, it seems at times that they are actively undermining Scottish industry.
“On their watch we have had a new bridge built, but with Chinese steel. Scores of new wind turbines going up across our country, but they are being imported from other parts of the globe, while Scottish workers miss out. New ferries not being built in Scotland, but being built in Turkey and Poland.
“While this is all happening they turn a blind eye to the running down of the Grangemouth refinery.”
The Labour leader declared: “That’s why we need a new direction in Scotland and that is why I will put the future of Scottish industry and manufacturing at the heart of Scottish Labour’s campaign in 2026.”
