A member of the Labour Party in Glasgow has fired back at Nigel Farage, dismissing the Reform leader’s controversial remarks as unwelcome in the city.
The response from Labour MP Dr. Zubir Ahmed came after Reform UK shared a video of Farage claiming that one in three children in Glasgow do not speak English as their first language, labeling it as a threat to the city’s culture. Dr. Ahmed, reflecting on his own experience as an immigrant child who went on to become a successful transplant surgeon, Member of Parliament, and minister, condemned Farage’s divisive rhetoric as akin to “hissing snake oil.”
In a separate comment, Scottish Labour MP Torcuil Crichton emphasized the value of bilingualism, questioning who wouldn’t want their children to be proficient in two languages.
Recent data from the Scottish government in 2024 revealed that out of 71,957 school-aged pupils in Glasgow, 29% did not identify English as their primary language. However, a significant portion of these non-native English speakers were reported to have varying degrees of English language proficiency.
Farage’s comments drew swift criticism, with Labour Party leader Keir Starmer denouncing him as a “divisive disgrace” focused on sowing discord and division within communities. Starmer highlighted the inclusivity and compassion of Scottish communities and rejected Farage’s attempts to spread negativity.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar echoed these sentiments, condemning Farage for exploiting Glasgow’s children to further his political agenda.