Swinney calls for Meta take away ‘racist’ Reform UK advert attacking Labour’s Sarwar

The SNP chief John Swinney has demanded that the landlord of Facebook act on Reform UK’s “racist” byelection ad that assaults the Scottish Labour chief, Anas Sarwar.

The Facebook video, which incorrectly claims Sarwar has promised to prioritise Pakistani communities, is now topic to formal proceedings from Scotland’s two major political events. Scottish Labour contacted Meta, Facebook’s dad or mum corporate, in regards to the video two weeks in the past and has but to obtain a answer.

On Monday the Daily Record reported that the SNP leader govt, Carol Beattie, had additionally written to Meta, mentioning that the ad “appears designed to provoke division, stir racial resentment and marginalise Pakistani residents in Scotland”.

The byelection for the Holyrood seat of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, caused by way of the dying of the preferred Nationalist MSP Christina McKelvie in March, is being fiercely contested, with Reform reputedly gaining flooring from Labour and the SNP. The 5 June byelection will function an important bellwether lower than a 12 months prior to the Scottish parliament elections due in May 2026.

The ad reproduced a decontextualised clip of Sarwar talking at an tournament celebrating the 75th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence in 2022, when he stated: “Pakistanis need represented in every mainstream political party in Scotland and across the UK.” It seems along the textual content “Anas Sarwar has said he will prioritise the Pakistani community”. He does no longer say this anyplace within the clips proven.

Speaking on Monday, Swinney stated: “We’ve got to address racism wherever it happens, which is why the SNP has complained to Meta about an advert attacking the Labour party, and because issues about racism are above party politics.

“Anas Sarwar is a political rival of mine, but he shouldn’t be subjected to that kind of racist attack and we want to make sure that we stand in solidarity against the tactics of Farage.”

Swinney stated he would ward off at the ad if it used to be referenced at the doorstep, as did the SNP’s candidate, Katy Loudon.

Last month, Swinney held a cross-party summit in Glasgow, inviting religion teams and third-sector leaders to speak about coverage of democratic values, incorrect information and the upward thrust of the some distance proper in Scotland. On Monday he stated: “One of the themes of the discussions we had in Glasgow a few weeks ago was all about misinformation and distortion. It’s debasing our politics. People can’t make informed judgments because they’re having disinformation peddled towards them.”

Last Thursday a spokesperson for Sarwar stated the ad used to be “blatantly racist” and that it “attempts to question the identity, loyalty and belonging of Anas Sarwar”.

“Anas was born in Scotland and has lived here all his life. He is a proud Scot who has worked in our NHS and campaigns to deliver for every Scot. Decent people across Scotland will reject Reform’s divisive politics.”

The Reform UK councillor Thomas Kerr stated: “John Swinney and Anas Sarwar are desperately trying to deflect attention away from the facts. This advert uses Mr Sarwar’s own words – if he doesn’t like them, he shouldn’t use them.

“The SNP and Labour have both broken Scotland, it’s no surprise they’re now forming some sort of pathetic and panicky anti-Reform coalition. The more Reform grows the more desperate their lies and smears will get but we’re ready for it. Unlike them we aren’t fighting for our careers, we’re fighting for our country.”

Despite McKelvie’s considerable majority when she held the seat, Swinney additionally said that the competition used to be “tight” and “still very difficult to call”.