FARAGE'S REFORM UK SPLIT UNIONIST VOTE AT HOLYROOD ELECTION, SAYS CURTICE

John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, told an audience at the Edinburgh Book Festival that Reform UK's presence at the Scottish Parliament elections in May split the unionist vote. Curtice said the party's impact contributed to both Labour's Westminster victory in 2024 and the pro-independence majority now sitting in Holyrood. He characterised Farage as the "midwife" of both Keir Starmer's parliamentary majority and the large pro-independence group in the Scottish Parliament. The remarks came during a panel discussion on Friday evening, where Curtice spoke with political adviser Liz Lloyd about the recent election results.

Curtice stated that Scotland was not isolated from the rise of Reform UK. He noted that the Scottish electorate held both the Scottish National Party and Labour to account at the election, reflecting broader patterns across the United Kingdom. He observed that Scotland rejected Labour in the same manner as Wales and England, adding that the Parliamentary Labour Party subsequently rejected Keir Starmer once Andy Burnham emerged as a potential successor.

Lloyd, former chief of staff to ex-first minister Nicola Sturgeon, said opposition parties in Scotland faced constraints in developing policy alternatives. She identified a shortage of resources as preventing some opposition parties from conducting research or formulating their own policy ideas. The discussion formed part of a wider panel examination of the Scottish Parliament elections and their implications for Scottish politics going forward.