Scotland’s first minister John Swinney reveals summit plan to combat far-right threat as he accuses Nigel Farage of being ‘accomplice to Russian agenda’
Scotland’s first minister has accused Nigel Farage of being “an accomplice to the Russian agenda” as he revealed plans for a summit to “draw a line in the sand” to counter the rise of far-right politics.
John Swinney said he “accepts and understands that people are angry” but is worried that in response to the discord some are finding “attractiveness in the politics of Farage and the far right”.
Speaking at a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh on Wednesday, the SNP leader said: “And I think that’s the wrong choice.
“And I’m simply making the point today that it’s important that those of us who are repulsed by the politics of Farage and the far right come together to give the leadership and stress the importance of the values that we hold dear about our society.”
Reform UK – led by Mr Farage – is surging in the polls in Scotland with multiple surveys suggesting it could pick up seats at next year’s Holyrood election.
Mr Swinney singled out Mr Farage, saying: “There is a very live and active threat to our security from the aggression of Russia and I think Farage is an accomplice to the Russian agenda and an apologist for the Russian agenda.
“Farage has been for years leading the argument which has been hostile to migration and I think that is based on a fundamentally racist view of the world – I reject that. I think migration is an advantage for Scotland.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Pic: Reuters
Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
On Tuesday, the Scottish government’s budget passed its final stage at Holyrood.
Mr Swinney had warned if the budget had failed to pass it would have served the interests of the far right and “leave devolution dangerously exposed”.
The first minister said “storm clouds are gathering – we can all see them” as he announced plans for a summit of political leaders and civic society to tackle the surge in far-right support.
The gathering – due to be held at the end of April – will feature representatives from Scotland’s churches, trade unions, charities and parliamentary parties.
Pic: PA
Mr Swinney hopes all those involved will “work together, for decency, democracy and respect”.
He said: “It is time to come together to draw a line in the sand. To set out who we are and what we believe in, because a politics of fear is a politics of despair.
“It is a politics that will divide us and destroy so much of what we hold dear.
“I want us to be ready for whatever this age of uncertainty throws at us, for us to be united in the face of the undoubted challenges that lie ahead.
“It is a mobilisation of mainstream Scotland that delivered our parliament a quarter of a century ago.
“And I have no doubt it is by mobilising mainstream Scotland that we can protect those things that we care about the most, those things that are most important to all of us today.”
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During the press conference, his first at Bute House as first minister, Mr Swinney also said the UK government’s decision to cut the foreign aid budget to increase defence spending was “short-sighted”.
Sir Keir Starmer has defended the decision to slash development assistance aid from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in the next two years.
The prime minister has sacrificed the aid funding to bolster Britain’s war chest from 2.3% to 2.5% by 2027.
In response, Mr Swinney said: “I understand the importance the prime minister attaches to increasing expenditure to ensure that we can deal with the threats that we face as a society, but I think the choices that are being made about slashing international aid are the wrong choices.
“I think they are short-sighted.”
He added: “The principles of international aid are about trying to address some of the fundamental issues about inequality within our world, which if we don’t address them through international development aid, these issues will come back to be a challenge and a difficulty for us.”