![\"John](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Swinney-at-SNP-manifesto-launch.png\")
John Swinney was today accused of silencing the voice of thousands of voters by saying he would lock Reform UK out of cross-party talks at Holyrood.<\/p>\n
The SNP leader, who is expected to become First Minister, told a media briefing in Edinburgh that because his party did not win a majority he will call a meeting of opposition leaders to build cross-party cooperation.<\/p>\n
But Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord \u2013 whose 17-strong group of MSPs is the joint second largest in the parliament \u2013 will not be invited.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I obviously recognised that some people in Scotland support Reform there is no doubt that many of our fellow Scots will be feeling very unsettled by the prospect of a party taking seats in the Scottish parliament which holds such hostility to minority groups in our country,\u201d said Mr Swinney.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy commitment is to ensure Nigel Farage and Reform are locked out of governance in Scotland. I will be engaging in talks with other opposition parties in the coming days.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement issued after the briefing, an outraged Mr Offord responded by saying:\u00a0\u201cThis is a disgraceful attempt by John Swinney and the SNP to silence the hundreds of thousands of people across Scotland who are backing Reform UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs of Friday evening, the people of Scotland made us the second largest party in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe First Minister talks endlessly about democracy and inclusion, yet the moment voters support a party that challenges the failing political consensus at Holyrood, he wants to pretend they don\u2019t exist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is arrogant, petty and deeply undemocratic. What\u2019s more, exactly the kind of out-of-touch establishment politics people are sick of.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe SNP can lock the doors of St Andrew\u2019s House if they like but they cannot shut down the growing demand for real change in Scotland.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReform UK will continue fighting for ordinary people who feel abandoned by the political class.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Swinney went on to say that Mr Farage looked destined become the next Prime Minister and that \u201cit is vital our parliament is fully \u2018Farage-proof\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n That required ensuring Scotland was able to become independent, he said, adding that he would be saying more about this in the \u201ccoming days and weeks.\u201d <\/p>\n Referring to the nationalist parties also now being in control in Northern Ireland and Wales, he said: \u201cThe direction of travel is clear. What the people in London like to refer to \u2013 rather patronisingly as the Celtic fringe \u2013 is very much about to become centre stage.\u201d<\/p>\n Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said:\u00a0\u201cLess than 24 hours after the Scottish Conservatives stopped the majority that John Swinney said he would get, he is shamelessly attempting to move the goalposts.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile it might be tempting to dismiss him as an independence obsessed crank, we know that he is deadly serious which is why we will continue to say \u2018no\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Swinney has called on the UK government to \u201cdo more listening\u201d and today said he would be listening to various demands from business.<\/p>\n However, he immediately dismissed calls from business to drop his plans for a food price cap, despite being told by several trade groups that it would not work and could be damaging. He insisted he would push through legislation within months.<\/p>\n \t <\/div>\n![\"Malcolm](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Malcolm-Offord-at-press-conf-26-1-26.png\")