John Swinney has said Scots who voted for Reform in a by-election last week were “angry”, not racist.

The First Minister was asked on the BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show if those who backed Reform were “gullible” or “racist” – a term the SNP leader has previously used to describe the party.

Mr Swinney said the 7,088 people who backed Reform – more than a quarter of the vote – in the Hamilton , Larkhall and Stonehouse ballot were “neither”, but were instead “angry at the cost-of-living crisis”.

He added: “I think that’s what motivates the Reform vote. People have got poorer because of one central thing – Brexit, and the author of that is (Reform UK leader Nigel) Farage .

“I’m standing up to Farage. I’m going to make no apology for it.”

John Swinney said those who voted Reform in H

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