Russell Findlay says Scots have “valid concerns” about migration after Nigel Farage said immigrants were “culturally smashing” Glasgow.
The Reform UK leader says one in three school children in the city speaks English as a second language, which he says is “turning it into a completely different city”.
His comments come ahead of his visit to Scotland on Saturday where he will officially launch Reform UK’s 2026 election campaign.
However, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has echoed these concerns, saying it is “understandable” why so many people are now concerned about immigration into Scotland.
Posting on X, Mr Farage said: “Ever since the creation of the Scottish Parliament 25 years ago, Scotland has been run by the SNP or Labour.
“Both are completely unconcerned about immigration levels coming into Scotland and both are incredibly relaxed about those coming in on the back of lorries.
“Glasgow offers housing and better facilities than anywhere else in the UK and as a result an incredible fact has come out that one in three pupils has English as a second language – one in three don’t speak it as a first language.
“That tells you something – this is not diversity as the left always preaches, it’s the cultural smashing of Glasgow.
“It is turning it into a completely different city in every way.”
He said Reform UK is “fighting back” against this, and claims this is why his party is now polling second north of the Border – and why the Scottish Conservatives have slipped down into fourth place.
Mr Farage added: “We will make this a big issue. It is totally unfair on taxpayers in Scotland that people like this should come into Britain illegally and then spend this amount of money on them.
“Think culturally what it means for Glasgow and in many ways for the future of Scotland.”
Last month it was revealed that Glasgow is housing 400 per cent more asylum seekers than it had initially planned to.
This also comes a week after a protest outside Dalmarnock Primary School in the city against English language classes for parents, and after Aberdeen City Council issued a cross-party statement condemning threats against staff for taking down flags.
When asked if he shares these concerns, Mr Findlay told The Scotsman: “I think people do have concerns, and quite understandably.
“They see record numbers of people coming into this country illegally by way of small boats. They see local services coming under increasing pressure, and that is why [UK Conservative leader] Kemi Badenoch has put forward detailed plans to deal with illegal migration in this country.
“We have to be careful we don’t become hostile to people coming to this country legally and properly and contributing to society, but these concerns are very often valid and that’s why so many people are expressing these views.”
He also dismissed reports that Reform UK and the UK Conservatives would merge into one party before the next general election, saying Mr Farage “wants to destroy our party”, and added: “There’s absolutely no way on earth I’d want to do any kind of deal with them.
“Why anyone would think it’s a good idea for us to get into bed with Nigel Farage’s Reform is beyond me.”
The Scottish Conservatives say they are not concerned about any further defections from the party to Reform UK, despite Mr Farage planning a visit north of the border this weekend.
The last time Mr Farage visited Scotland it was to announce the defection of Graham Simpson MSP. He previously used visits to Scotland to announce various councillor defections as well.
However, Mr Findlay said: “You know what they have done in the past, they’ve used people as props for the purpose of a PR opportunity and in one famous occasion couldn’t even remember the names of the defectors who had joined them.
“Whether or not [defections] happen remains to be seen, but what we didn’t see was any sign of Nigel Farage in Stranraer where Reform UK thought they only had to turn up and win that [Dumfries and Galloway Council] by-election, which they duly lost.”
Mr Findlay also condemned “some sectors” and the media for “giving Nigel Farage a platform that’s to his benefit”.
He added: “Reform in Scotland, and across the UK, seem to get away with either having no policies whatsoever or having policy positions that are completely inconsistent.
“It’s frustrating but we can only control what we do, and that is stand up for what we believe in.”
