REFORM UK PROPOSES BAN ON SIGN LANGUAGE IN SCOTTISH ELECTIONS

Reform UK has proposed legislation that would ban the use of sign language in election campaigns, according to reports. One of the party's MSPs suggested the party would pursue the ban if elected. The proposal has drawn criticism from those who say it would prevent deaf voters from accessing election information. Reform UK later stated it would rewrite the plans following the backlash.

The party's wider proposals would restrict languages used on election leaflets during campaigns. According to one report, the original plans would have resulted in candidates being jailed for up to six months for using Gaelic, Irish or Cornish on election materials. Reform UK initially claimed the language ban would not apply to Gaelic before subsequently stating it would revise the proposals. The party has not published detailed clarification of what the revised plans would contain.

Critics have said the original proposals would effectively exclude deaf people and speakers of minority languages from participating in democratic processes. The Scottish election campaign period provides the context for these proposals, though no specific election date has been confirmed in the source material. Reform UK has indicated it intends to modify its position, though the party has not yet released the amended version of its policy.