Lorna Slater has said she is ready to debate Nigel Farage at next year’s Holyrood election if the Reform UK leader chooses to campaign in Scotland.
The Scottish Greens co-leader told the Record she would be “grateful” for the opportunity to spell out the “positive vision” her party will offer voters.
And she accused the UK Labour Government of “pandering” to Reform by talking tough on tackling illegal immigration.
Thomas Kerr, a councillor in Glasgow who quit the Tories to join Reform, previously confirmed Farage will play a major role in the pivotal election next year.
A poll published yesterday predicted that Reform are on course to elect 15 MSPs, with the Greens winning 10. The Norstat survey also suggested Scottish Labour could return just 18 members to Holyrood, which would represent the party’s worst result in the history of devolution.
Slater said: “It is very worrying that Labour appear to be trying to shift to the right to accommodate Reform, instead of setting out a vision for the UK, and for Scotland.
“The vision the Scottish Greens are setting out is, we want to welcome immigrants, we want to make people feel Scotland is their home, and we want to make Scotland a fairer place with unashamed wealth distribution.
“That’s the kind of vision you might expect from Labour, but they have completely failed to do so. Instead they are trying to pander to Reform.”
Asked if she was concerned by the rise of Reform, Slater added: “I read they are planning to use Nigel Farage to head up their campaign in Scotland. So I could find myself on televised debates with him.
“It would certainly give the Greens a chance to set out our very clear opposition to the kinds of things Reform stand for, and I would be grateful for that.
“I wouldn’t want to share a platform with Nigel Farage if I had any choice in it, but if I am obliged to do that, I am not going to be shy in standing up for what I believe in.
“We are at opposite ends of the political spectrum and voters need that variety. But it is disappointing to me that the larger parties are failing to set out a positive vision for the kind of future they want to build, and instead are stealing ideas from the loudest voice in the room.”
Reform do not have a Scottish leader and they look set to rely on Farage in the Holyrood election. Kerr said last week: “Why detract away from Nigel because he is the frontman of the show? It’s pointless trying to put up someone who is going to be eclipsed by Farage because he’s so well known.”
“I don’t think Nigel will mind me saying to anyone, he loves the limelight – and the exciting prospect of Britain’s most exciting and popular politician up against some of the most boring politicians in John Swinney and Russell [Findlay] and others will be very entertaining.”
“I think it’s very likely that he’ll be the one that fronts up the TV debates.”
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