Nigel Farage has accused Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar of having ‘introduced sectarianism into Scottish politics’.
The Reform UK leader defended his party’s attack ad against Mr Sarwar as he played it in full at a press conference in London which was aired live by national broadcasters.
Labour and the SNP have condemned the ad, which Reform UK spent thousands of pounds on, as ‘racist’ and have called for Meta to remove it from Facebook.
In the video, clips are played of Mr Sarwar encouraging people from south Asian communities to get involved in politics.
Defending the ad after playing it to a room of journalists, Mr Farage said: ‘So it was Anas Sarwar that introduced sectarianism into Scottish politics, making it perfectly clear his priority was to a certain section of the community.
‘All we’ve done is to put out the exact words spoken by him without any comment, we’ve said nothing, just that we will represent the people of that constituency.
‘The fact that they, having chosen to go down the sectarian route, choose to throw accusations back at us says to me that we are winning.’
In the ad, Reform claims Mr Sarwar, who was born in Glasgow to Pakistani Muslim parents, will ‘prioritise’ Pakistani people.
The Reform UK leader defended his party’s attack ad against Anas Sarwar
Mr Sarwar has described the Reform UK leader’s comments as a ‘blatant attempt’ to ‘try and poison our politics’
Mr Farage played the controversial advert on a TV during a press conference in London
Mr Sarwar is not heard saying that, with clips showing him saying: ‘Pakistanis need (to be) represented in every mainstream political party in Scotland and across the UK.’
The clip then cuts to a different part of the speech, with Mr Sarwar saying: ‘The days where south Asian communities get to lead political parties and get to lead countries is upon us.’
Mr Sarwar has condemned the ad as a ‘very deliberate dog whistle’.
Responding to the latest comments by Mr Farage, Mr Sarwar said: ‘This is a blatant attempt from Nigel Farage to try and poison our politics here in Scotland.
‘I have fought against sectarianism all my adult life.’
Mr Sarwar, who is a qualified dentist, added: ‘I was working in Scotland’s NHS while Nigel Farage was on the gravy train in Brussels, and now I am trying to change our country while he tries to divide it.
‘Nigel Farage is a poisonous man who doesn’t understand Scotland, doesn’t care about Scotland, and that’s why Scotland will reject him.’
The Scottish Labour leader has previously said he believes Reform UK is questioning his identity, belonging and ‘loyalty to the country’ with its advert.
Members of the media saw the advert again as it was played at the event in London
He had added: ‘I am a Scot, a proud Scot. Having worked in Scotland’s NHS, I want to deliver a fairer and better Scotland.
‘What these guys are, are chancers who want to play on people’s fears, to divide us rather than actually deliver meaningful solutions for the people of Scotland.’
The ad is part of Reform UK’s campaign in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, which will be held next week.
Reacting to the latest development, Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie MSP said: ‘This advert was a despicable attempt to bring blatant racism into the by-election. This hateful kind of politics can’t be welcomed into Scotland.’
