Politics
Reform UK MP Grilled Over ‘Racist’ Ad Targeting Anas Sarwar—Refuses to Answer
Reform UK’s newest MP, Sarah Pochin, faced mounting pressure and public scrutiny after being confronted about a party campaign video widely condemned as “blatantly racist.”
The online ad, published ahead of the upcoming Scottish Parliament by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, features clips of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar — who was born in Glasgow to Pakistani Muslim parents — discussing the importance of South Asian representation in politics.
The video, shared via Reform UK’s social media platforms, claims Sarwar “promised to prioritise the Pakistani community,” despite the fact that Sarwar never uses those words in the footage. Critics say the ad misrepresents his comments and seeks to cast doubt on his loyalty and national identity.
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A spokesperson for Sarwar blasted the video, calling it a “blatantly racist advert from Reform UK that attempts to question the identity, loyalty and belonging of Anas Sarwar.”
In an appearance on Times Radio, newly elected MP Sarah Pochin — who won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election on May 1 — attempted to distance herself from the controversy, insisting she hadn’t seen the video and therefore couldn’t comment.
“There is nothing racist about Reform UK,” Pochin claimed. “I would not be associated with a party that was the least bit racist.”
Host Rosie Wright pressed further, pointing out that the ad distorted Sarwar’s words. “The advert claimed the Scottish Labour leader had promised to prioritise the Pakistani community. Well, he doesn’t say that. He said there needed to be more Pakistani representation. What went wrong here in the creation of that video?”
Pochin, appearing visibly uncomfortable, dodged the question before finally stating: “Let me be quite clear for your listeners and viewers; I haven’t seen that video. I cannot comment on that video because I haven’t seen it. I’m making it quite clear though that I am all about supporting British values. Anybody that is here as a British citizen, legally, then that is fine by me.”
She added, “I can’t comment on this particular video. It’s in Scotland, I haven’t been up there, I haven’t been part of this campaign.”
Despite her denial, Meta’s public ad library reveals that the video has been live on Facebook and Instagram since May 12 and has racked up nearly half a million views.
A spokesperson for Reform UK Scotland doubled down in a statement to HuffPost UK, saying: “Reform UK has advertised Anas Sarwar’s own words. If he doesn’t like them, he shouldn’t use them.”
The ad continues to circulate online, intensifying criticism of Reform UK’s campaign messaging and raising new questions about race and political accountability in the UK.
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Photo: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images
