Swinney 'wasting taxpayers' cash' on Reform summit

JOHN SWINNEY'S summit to discuss the rise of Reform has been blasted as "a stain on democracy and a waste of taxpayers' cash".

- By David Walker Scottish Politics Reporter

In February, the First Minister announced plans for a "line in the sand" summit to combat what he described as the "far-right".

All the Holyrood parties apart from the Scottish Conservatives have agreed to attend the event, scheduled for April 23.

Yesterday, Mr Swinney even hinted at a formal 'anti-Reform' alliance involving the SNP, Labour, the Greens and the Lib Dems.

Reform UK Glasgow councillor Thomas Kerr accused him of suppressing political opposition under the guise of unity.

He said: "After nearly two decades of this incompetent and rotten SNP Government, it's no surprise that John Swinney would rather talk about Reform than his own horrendous record in power.

Democracy