Sarwar: FM is using Reform leader as his 'bogeyman'

ANAS Sarwar has accused the First Minister of using Nigel Farage as a “bogeyman” to distract from the SNP’s failures in Government.

- By Craig Meighan

The Scottish Labour leader said John Swinney wanted to make the 2026 Holyrood election about the Reform UK leader, instead of his party’s record.

Reform UK won hundreds of councillors in England last week, overturning a large Labour majority in a Westminster by-election and won its first mayor.

Mr Sarwar said next year will be a “challenge” for his party. Appearing on BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show, he said: “Anyone that’s thought I’ve had an easy job in the last four years obviously hasn’t been watching.

“It’s been a challenge all over the last four years and the next year is going to be a challenge but we have come through challenges before and won.