Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, has been at the center of controversy due to a Reform UK social media advert that has been labeled as “blatantly racist.” The online video, released before a by-election in South Lanarkshire, features text insinuating that Sarwar intends to prioritize the Pakistani community. Labour criticized Reform for raising doubts about Sarwar’s “identity, loyalty, and belonging,” while Reform defended the advert, denying any racist undertones and refusing to take it down.
Meta’s advert library revealed that the post has been active on Facebook and Instagram since mid-May, costing Reform between £8,000 and £9,000. It has garnered approximately half a million views so far. The advert includes snippets from a speech Sarwar gave in 2022 during a celebration of Pakistan’s independence anniversary, where he advocated for increased representation of Pakistanis in mainstream political parties in Scotland and the UK. Despite the clips, Sarwar never stated that he would prioritize the Pakistani community. Born in Glasgow to Pakistani Muslim parents, Sarwar comes from a family with a strong political background.
The advert’s contentious nature has drawn criticism from various political parties in Scotland, with the SNP expressing the importance of standing up against division and marginalization within communities. The Scottish Liberal Democrats condemned Reform for using “scummy tactics” and accused them of selective editing. The Scottish Greens labeled the advert as a “despicable attempt” to introduce racism into the by-election. In response, Reform defended their actions, stating that they were merely highlighting Sarwar’s own statements and record.
As the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse by-election approaches following the passing of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, voters will have the opportunity to cast their votes on June 5th. The diverse range of candidates includes representatives from parties such as SNP, Labour, Conservative, Greens, Liberal Democrats, Reform, Scottish Socialist Party, Scottish Family Party, and more. Despite the controversy surrounding the Reform UK advert, the political landscape remains active and contested in Scotland
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