THE BBC’s decision to platform Reform UK in Scotland when the right-wing party has no elected members has been branded “bizarre”.
Thomas Kerr, a Glasgow councillor who defected from the Tories, is due to take part in the flagship debate programme on Thursday night from St Andrews.
All of Reform UK’s Scottish politicians are defectors from the Tories or Scottish Labour. They have not won an election north of the Border.
Kerr will join Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Tory MP Andrew Bowie and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch on the programme.
A number of social media users pointed out that both the Scottish Greens and Scottish LibDems have more elected representatives than Reform, but are not as frequently platformed by the broadcaster.
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “Reform and the politics they represent are a direct threat to Scotland. We all saw what they were really about during the Hamilton by-election – where they ran a campaign of hate-fuelled prejudice and misinformation, showing themselves to be a racist, far-right party.
“Long before his rise in the opinion polls, the BBC gave Nigel Farage an extraordinarily high profile, as one of the most regular faces at the Question Time table. Now, they are doing the same in Scotland where his latest political vehicle has never had so much as a local councillor elected.
“It is frankly bizarre that the BBC has chosen to platform a representative of a party with zero electoral track record, and a party whose politics have been shown to be dishonest, divisive and dangerous.”
Tomorrow, Question Time is in St Andrews Joining Fiona are Anas Sarwar, Andrew Bowie, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Thomas Kerr, and Lesley Riddoch 9pm on the @BBCNews channel, @BBCiPlayer and @BBCSounds, or @BBCOne at 10:40pm Apply now: https://t.co/3ivO2BXgl1#bbcqt pic.twitter.com/bjWHKE5xBT
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) June 25, 2025
A spokesperson for the BBC said: “Question Time is a national programme which must be relevant to audiences across the UK and reflect a wide range of political views.
"We continue to seek a range of views when Question Time comes to Scotland and across this series, our panels have had representation from the various political parties, including the Scottish Greens and Liberal Democrats.
“We also take account of the most recent electoral performance and electoral movement since the election.
"Reform have consistently polled strongly all across the UK and in a recent Scottish Parliamentary by-election (Hamilton, Rutherglen and Stonehouse), Reform polled 26% of the vote, and finished third, behind Labour and SNP.”
Kerr’s inclusion on the programme sparked a strong reaction online.
SNP MSP James Dornan said: “Once again we see the once unknown Tory councillor Thomas Kerr on BBC. I have no doubt at all that him deserting that sinking ship to join Reform had absolutely nothing to do with it of course.”
Scottish Greens Glasgow councillor Jon Molyneux added: “Thomas Kerr has more time for TV cameras than he does for his constituents. He's not contributed to a council meeting for six months.
“Too much like hard work or running scared? He should do the job taxpayers pay him for and open up his snake oil to proper scrutiny.”
On social media user said: “When was the last time, BBC Question Time had a ‘councillor’ from a political party? They are so desperate to platform Reform.”
Another added: “Reform, again. No elected representatives in Scotland, but let's promote them anyway at the expense of the other parties who do have elected politicians.”
One said simply: “Again where are the Liberal Democrats or the Greens, Might as well just call it the Reform show #bbcbias.”
It comes as a new MRP poll from YouGov, released on Thursday morning, predicted Reform winning three Westminster seats in Scotland.
