Overview
- Nigel Farage is hosting a "Scotland Needs Reform" event in Falkirk on Saturday as the party builds its campaign for next May’s Scottish Parliament election.
- Falkirk has seen recurring demonstrations outside the Cladhan Hotel where asylum seekers are housed, with counter‑protests planned by the group Falkirk for All in a "unity march."
- Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney accused Farage of trying to "whip up hate" and earlier called his remarks about Glasgow schoolchildren "simply racist," a characterization Reform UK Scotland rejected.
- Several surveys focused on the Holyrood vote have put Reform UK in second place behind the SNP, and analysts say the party could win its first seats under Scotland’s proportional system.
- Reform UK received £9 million this week from investor Christopher Harborne, a significant boost to its resources ahead of the Holyrood campaign.