Farage favours SNP over Labour to run Holyrood – Daily Business

Reform UK would prefer the SNP forms the next government at Holyrood next year rather than Labour, Nigel Farage has said. 

Previously, it had been understood that Reform would support Labour leader Anas Sarwar to keep the nationalists out of power.

Mr Farage’s comments, reported by The Times, contradict his deputy Richard Tice, who said last November that “anything is preferable to the SNP”.

However, Mr Farage now insists there would be no deal with Mr Sarwar after next year’s Holyrood election and that Reform MSPs would not endorse him under any circumstances.  

While offering to support the SNP over Labour, he was dismissive of the chances of Scotland gaining independence.

“I’m not that worried about the SNP,” he said. “Yes, they’re going to have a resurgence.  

“Scotland is not going to leave the United Kingdom. It’s not going to happen in a month of Sundays. 

“We’re not doing a deal with Labour. No: we’re just not going to do it.” 

Mr Farage’s shift of allegiance may come as a surprise north of the border, but he is gaining ground on Labour in the south, where it is becoming the government’ main threat. This would make it difficult for him to throw his support behind Labour in Scotland. His party is also seeking to win support from the Tories.

His comments come days before SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney holds a summit designed to stop the spread of ‘populism’ and polarisation in Scottish politics. Tory leader Russell Findlay has already said he will not attend, saying Mr Swinney’s own ‘divisive’ policies are part of the problem.

Mr Farage’s views also come ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. Labour and the Tories to say they proved what both parties have previously warned: “Vote Reform get SNP”. 

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: “Reform will help the SNP and boost the chances of the Nationalists remaining in power.

“Nigel Farage’s party handed several seats to the SNP in last year’s General Election and now it seems they’re happy to hand John Swinney another five years in power.

“There is every chance that Reform will stand pro-independence candidates in the 2026 Holyrood election who would be happy to see another referendum.”

Today First Minister and SNP Leader John Swinney will be joined by Katy Loudon and SNP activists to kick off the party’s by-election campaign which was called following the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie. 

He said his party will always stand up for Scotland, adding: “Unfortunately the same can’t be said of the Labour party in Scotland who have chosen to spend their first year in office scrapping winter heating support for pensioners, cutting essential support for people who are unable to work, pushing thousands more into poverty and failing to take any action on rising household energy bills.”