Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has called on Meta to remove a controversial Reform UK byelection ad. He brands it a racist political ad that distorts Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s words. The Facebook video falsely claims Sarwar pledged to prioritize Pakistanis, using edited clips from a 2022 speech.
Both the SNP and Scottish Labour have filed formal complaints with Meta. However, Labour has waited two weeks without response. SNP Chief Executive Carol Beattie slammed the ad for “provoking division and racial resentment.” Additionally, Swinney emphasized that combating racism “transcends party politics” and called for rejecting such racist political ads in general.
The ad features a spliced clip of Sarwar stating, “Pakistanis need representation,” overlayed with text alleging he’ll favor the Pakistani community. This claim is absent from his actual remarks. Swinney vowed to counter the narrative during campaigning, as SNP candidate Katy Loudon echoed his stance. She highlighted their concerns over the racist nature of the political ad.
Reform UK Councillor Thomas Kerr dismissed the criticism, accusing Swinney and Sarwar of deflecting scrutiny over the ad. “This uses Sarwar’s own words,” Kerr asserted, framing the backlash as a “panicky coalition” against Reform’s growing influence.
The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse byelection was triggered by Christina McKelvie’s death. It has become a battleground with Reform gaining traction ahead of the 5 June vote. Swinney admitted the race remains “tight,” despite McKelvie’s prior majority. Controversies like this racist political ad add complexity to the race.
Sarwar’s team condemned the blatantly racist political ad, stressing his lifelong Scottish roots and NHS service. “Decent people will reject Reform’s divisive tactics,” a spokesperson said. The row follows Swinney’s recent summit on far-right threats and misinformation, which he warned is “degrading democracy.”
As Meta faces mounting pressure to act, the incident underscores escalating tensions in Scottish politics. Reform’s provocative tactics draw fierce cross-party rebukes against this form of racist political advertising.
For more political updates, visit London Pulse News.
