SCOTTISH Labour have been criticised for distributing a fake newspaper called “Scotland’s Voice” to prospective voters.
It comes as the party have announced a slate of new candidates in recent weeks with the 2026 Holyrood election on the horizon.
In multiple posts to social media, activists and politicians have been pictured campaigning with copies of “Scotland’s Voice” – which appears to be a multiple page campaign leaflet in the format of a newspaper.
One copy had the headline “Ready To Deliver Scotland’s New Direction” while another has “Scotland’s Best Days Are Ahead Of Us”, accompanied by a picture of leader Anas Sarwar.
I'm delighted to announce that I have been selected as @ScottishLabour candidate for Strathkelvin & Bearsden. This constituency needs an MSP who will fight for them in parliament. This morning I was in Lennoxtown, speaking to voters. They want change at Holyrood in 2026. pic.twitter.com/mxyXydAQig
— Cllr Colette McDiarmid (@coletteeastdun) August 16, 2025
SNP MSP George Adam took aim at the campaigning material,
“It is deeply ironic that Labour now claim to be Scotland’s voice when their Scottish leadership has failed to stand up to their London bosses on one single issue since they came to power last year,” he told The National.
Previously, the Society of Editors has hit out at political parties for using fake newspapers as campaign material, pledging to "name and shame" culprits.
"We have written to representatives of all political parties urging them to put an end to this mimicry as well as vowing to name and shame those who continue to attempt to pull the wool over voters’ eyes," the society said in January 2024.
During the Southside by-election in Glasgow in March, the SNP also took aim at a leaflet which claimed that GB Energy is “lowering bills and creating jobs”.
Keir Starmer, in comments which have been often repeated by his opponents, previously said Labour would help “families save up to £300 off their energy bills” by 2030.
However, the party has faced accusations of having “lied” to the UK public after Ofgem announced that the price cap would rise to £1849 per year from April – an almost £300 increase since Labour entered government in July 2024.
Bob Doris, the SNP MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, then hit out at the “mock newspaper”, which he said had been “designed by Labour to intentionally mislead voters”.
He then asked: “Will Anas Sarwar do the right thing and recall it from further circulation?"
Scottish Labour have been approached for comment.
