Line Of Duty star Martin Compston has joined forces with Scotland’s First Minister to warn of the “significant threat” Nigel Farage’s Reform UK poses in the upcoming Holyrood election.
The actor on Friday joined SNP leader John Swinney on the campaign trail in Greenock, Inverclyde – the home of both Compston and Lord Malcolm Offord, the leader of Reform UK Scotland.
Speaking ahead of his visit, Compston accused Mr Farage of seeking to shrink Scotland’s budget and its Parliament, and claimed the Reform leader would privatise the NHS “if he got half the chance”.
Mr Swinney said: “Martin and I share a common concern about the dangers that we face from the politics of Reform,” adding they had spoken about “the divisiveness they bring to our society”.
During the visit, Mr Swinney and Compston joined footballers at Greenock Morton FC – where the actor was once a player – on the pitch for a kickabout.
Mr Swinney said he and Compston “come from very similar views of the world about the need for us to have an inclusive, welcoming society”.
However the SNP leader claimed Reform is “the antithesis of all of that”.
He said: “It’s pretty obvious that Reform pose a significant threat in this election campaign.
“I have made it clear there will be no circumstances whatsoever in which there is any co-operation or collaboration between the SNP and Reform after the election.
“That’s the message Martin and I are putting forward.”
With support for Reform on the rise across the UK, Mr Swinney was clear he does not want the party “gaining a foothold” in governing in any part of the country – despite suggestions from pollsters that a Reform government at Westminster could drive up support for Scottish independence.
Mr Swinney said: “Wherever Reform are standing, I would encourage people to not vote in favour of Reform.
“I hope Reform do not make any headway because I think they bring division at all times.
“I don’t like the politics of Reform, I stand up to the politics of Reform at all times, I don’t want to see them gaining a foothold in the governance of any part of the United Kingdom, because I think they will just spread further division and disagreement and hostility within our society.”
Ahead of Friday’s visit, Compston – who found fame after starring in the Ken Loach movie Sweet 16 – had claimed Scottish Labour could work with Reform after the May 7 Holyrood election.
Lord Offord and other senior Reform figures north of the border have alleged Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar approached them with an offer to co-operate in a bid to oust the SNP from power.
Labour has denied such claims and accused Lord Offord of lying.
Compston, a well-known supporter of Scottish independence, said: “Nigel Farage isn’t interested in Scotland – he wants to cut our budget, shrink our Parliament and would privatise our NHS if he got half the chance. We should have none of it.
“The fact that Labour are willing to work with him shows just how far they have fallen.
“On May 7, the way to keep Farage’s toxic politics out of Scotland is for people to unite behind the SNP – and the way to lock Farage out of Scotland for good is by becoming an independent country.”
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