Swinney’s summit on tackling far right is a ‘talking shop’, says Findlay

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has dismissed John Swinney’s planned summit to tackle the far right as a “talking shop”.

Mr Findlay demanded that the First Minister drop his government’s support for Scottish independence ahead of the April 23 meeting – something Mr Swinney is extremely unlikely to agree to.

The First Minister announced the summit in February as a way of tackling the rise of the far right – in which he included Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

With some opinion polls suggesting Reform could win several MSPs at next year’s election, Mr Swinney said he hopes to “lock out” Reform from Holyrood.

Professor Sir John Curtice, of the University of Strathclyde, has said that aside from any genuine wish to tackle Reform, it may be “advantageous” for Mr Swinney to sow further discord among the pro-union parties.

In a letter to the First Minister, Mr Findlay said: “I agree with your view that the ‘threat from polarising forces is real’.

“The majority of Scots who support our country’s proud place in the United Kingdom are familiar with the polarising forces of nationalism generally and your party specifically.

“The nationalist movement, which you lead, is responsible for sowing division while seeking to blame others for your government’s many failings.”

Mr Findlay, who was elected Scottish Conservative leader last September, said the aims of the summit are “not disagreeable” but he is concerned by “hypocrisy” from the SNP.

He said that before making any final decision on attending, the First Minister should “drop your government’s divisive policy of dismantling the United Kingdom” and “apologise for SNP ministers peddling misinformation”.

Mr Findlay added: “If you cannot agree to these reasonable and common sense requests, the paying public will see your summit for what it is — a politically-motivated and taxpayer-funded talking shop whose real purpose is to generate positive headlines for your government while distracting from its dismal record of failure.”

In response to Mr Findlay’s letter, a spokesperson for First Minister John Swinney said: “It is deeply disappointing that the Conservatives are searching for reasons not to take part in an important discussion and cannot bring themselves to rise to the occasion.

“The First Minister’s gathering is an opportunity for Scotland to unite behind the common principle that far right and racist hatred should have no place in Scotland and to agree a common approach to asserting Scotland’s shared values and creating a cohesive society where everyone feels at home.

“We would hope that all parties in Parliament would be able to come together around this basic premise and the large number of organisations from civic Scotland who will attend would rightly expect politicians to show unity on such a serious issue.

“We hope that Mr Findlay will reflect, put aside politics and agree to take part.”