A new poll has revealed that the overwhelming majority of Scots believe the rise of Reform UK has given far-right extremists the confidence to speak out more openly, raising fresh concerns about the direction of political debate across the country.
The survey findings paint a striking picture of how people in Scotland view the growth of Nigel Farage’s party, with most respondents saying Reform’s increasing profile has created an environment where extreme right-wing views feel more acceptable to express publicly.
It is a sentiment that will come as little surprise to many who have watched Reform UK surge in the polls south of the border, picking up significant support in English local elections and positioning itself as a major force in British politics. But the data suggests Scots are watching that rise with considerable unease.
Scotland has historically returned very few right-wing populist politicians to Holyrood or Westminster, and support for parties like Reform has remained far lower north of the border compared to parts of England. Yet that has not stopped people here from feeling the ripple effects of the party’s growing influence on the wider national conversation.
Critics of Reform UK have long argued that the party normalises extreme viewpoints by bringing them into mainstream political discourse. The poll suggests a large chunk of the Scottish public agrees with that assessment, believing that the party’s visibility gives cover to those who hold more hardline positions on issues like immigration, race and national identity.
The findings come at a time when far-right activity has been under intense scrutiny across the UK. Last summer saw violent disorder break out in a number of English towns and cities, with far-right agitators playing a central role in attacks on mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers. Scotland was not immune either, with a number of planned protests taking place, though these were largely met with significant counter-demonstrations from communities and anti-racism groups.
For many Scots, those events brought the issue much closer to home and sharpened awareness of how online radicalisation and political rhetoric can translate into real-world violence.
Reform UK has consistently denied that it stirs up extremism, with Farage and other senior figures arguing the party simply gives a voice to people who feel ignored by mainstream politics. Supporters say concerns about immigration and national sovereignty are legitimate issues that other parties have failed to address honestly.
But opponents argue that framing matters, and that the language used by Reform politicians around topics like immigration and multiculturalism creates a climate where more extreme actors feel validated.
Scottish political leaders have largely been vocal in their opposition to Reform’s brand of politics. The SNP, Scottish Labour and the Scottish Greens have all positioned themselves firmly against the kind of right-wing populism that has gained traction in other parts of the UK, and Scotland’s political culture has generally trended in a different direction.
Still, analysts have warned against complacency. While Reform’s direct electoral impact in Scotland has been limited so far, the broader cultural and political shifts happening across Britain do not stop at the border. Social media means that rhetoric circulating in England reaches Scottish audiences just as quickly, and community tensions around issues like asylum seeker accommodation have surfaced in parts of Scotland too.
The poll adds to a growing body of evidence that Scots are paying close attention to the rise of right-wing populism even if they are not voting for it in large numbers. Whether that concern translates into active political engagement or simply reflects a general anxiety about the state of public debate remains to be seen.
What is clear is that the growth of Reform UK has not gone unnoticed here, and for most people surveyed, the party’s rise is seen as something that has made the political atmosphere more hostile rather than more honest.