John Swinney accuses Reform of racism over Anas Sarwar ad

First Minister John Swinney has accused Reform UK of a “racist attack” on Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar.

Both the SNP and Labour have complained to Facebook’s mother or father corporate Meta a couple of Reform ad operating at the web site forward of a South Lanarkshire by-election.

The video options textual content claiming Sarwar “will prioritise the Pakistani community”.

Reform has denied the video is racist and mentioned it has no plans to take it down.

Speaking at the marketing campaign path forward of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, Swinney mentioned the ad was once an try to “deceive and distort” Sarwar’s phrases.

He referred to as for Meta to take away the video, telling journalists that it amounted to a “racist attack”.

The first minister mentioned: “As a political rival of Anas Sarwar, I think that’s unacceptable, because it’s trying to use race in this campaign against one of my political rivals.”

Asked if he would discuss to the Reform UK chief Nigel Farage to problem his perspectives, having prior to now described his birthday party as far-right, Swinney mentioned he had made “no secret” of his opinion of the baby-kisser.

“I’m certainly not going to go around the streets wandering around after Nigel Farage,” the SNP chief mentioned.

Scottish Labour prior to now described the ad as “blatantly racist”.

The birthday party complained to Meta two weeks in the past, whilst the SNP lodged a separate grievance on Monday.

The SNP’s nationwide secretary, Carol Beattie, mentioned in a letter to the social media company that the video “crosses the line into race-baiting and scapegoating”.

She added that it was once an try to “provoke division, stir racial resentment, and marginalise Pakistani residents in Scotland”.

The SNP prompt Meta to take away the content material and “apply appropriate sanctions”.

The birthday party additionally requested for explanation on how the organisation how political promoting could be monitored “to prevent the incitement of racial hatred.”

The Scottish Greens additionally described the Reform ad as racist, whilst the Liberal Democrats accused Farage’s birthday party of “scummy tactics”.

Meta has been contacted for remark.

Voters will move to the polls within the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on 5 June following the dying of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie previous this 12 months.

The applicants status within the poll are:

Katy Loudon – SNP

Davy Russell – Labour

Richard Nelson – Conservative

Ann McGuinness – Greens

Aisha Mir – Liberal Democrat

Ross Lambie – Reform

Collette Bradley – Scottish Socialist Party

Andy Brady – Scottish Family Party

Janice Mackay – UK Independence Party

Mark Wilkinson – Independent