An onlinegroup run by a former Tory leadership contender is promoting far-right content and racism.
The Facebook page is run by supporters of Nigel Farage’s Reform party, with ex-Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne an administrator.
The 1400-strong group regularly features posts about former first minister Humza Yousaf and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. One appeared this year about the former SNP leader with the comment “is he still lingering about Scotland. He should be sent back also”.
Another compared Keir Starmer to Adolf Hitler, referring to him as “Herr Starmer”.
A post on a new mosque had comments “Invasion headquarters” and “We don’t want them in Scotland”.
The page has dozens of links promoting videos by activist and ex-UKIP organiser Alistair McConachie, who was ejected from Farage’s old party over Holocaust denial.
He founded another party that fielded former BNP activists Max Dunbar and John Robertson as candidates.
Georgie Laming, of HOPE not hate, said: “This group administrated by Michelle Ballantyne is full to the brim with racism and extremism. Reform UK must eject anyone participating in it immediately.”
Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said: “It is up to the Tories and Reform to make clear there is no room for this bile in Scottish politics.”
Ex-Scots Tory MSP Ballantyne stood to be party leader before quitting in 2020. Two months later she was Reform UK Scotland leader. She lost her seat in the Holyrood elections. She left her Reform role and says she is “not active in politics any more.”
Ballantyne said: “I haven’t been active in this group. I once put out a post about a campaign day months ago but I have never exercised any admin rights and haven’t been following the content as I don’t spend much time on social media.”
A Reform UK spokesman said: “This group is nothing to do with the party.”
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