Reform UK could take “outright power” at Holyrood in 2031, Nigel Farage has insisted.
The party leader addressed a rally in Aberdeen on Monday evening, as he set his sights on becoming the second largest party in May’s election, with total control his aim the next time around.
Polling suggests Reform is currently in a battle for second place with Labour ahead of the May 7 vote, which Mr Farage claimed would be a “breakthrough” moment north of the border.
WATCH: Reform UK Local Election Tour. Join Nigel Farage & Malcolm Offord LIVE in Aberdeen. 🚨 https://t.co/j7W1iTe1JI
— Reform UK Scotland (@ReformUKScot) April 13, 2026
“I do think Scottish politics deserves a jolt, and I do believe that (Reform leader in Scotland) Malcolm Offord is prepared to give the courage and the leadership to take us through May 7, to establish us in Holyrood and to put us in a position where we win outright power, outright control, next time around,” he said.
“That is the plan, that is the timetable that I’ve set out.”
Speaking to journalists after the event, Lord Offord said he was “in it to win it”, despite what Mr Farage said, adding that they “might have a different opinion” to each other.
Mr Farage was introduced by Lord Offord, who addressed what he sees as issues north of the border caused by immigration.
While the Scottish Parliament has no control over the immigration system, Reform have claimed that preferential housing policies – which are devolved to Scotland – have brought more immigrants north of the border.
Lord Offord – who resigned his seat in the House of Lords earlier this year – told the Aberdeen crowd he had been contacted by a group of GPs from a “regular Scottish town in the central belt”, who reported being stretched as a result of people coming to the town.
“They were presenting with a whole series of conditions, some of which we haven’t had in our own country recently,” he said.
“Whether it’s TB, hepatitis C – there’s s number of advanced pregnancy cases, there’s a number of cases of HIV.”
He quoted one of the doctors, who said he had referred the HIV cases to clinics where they were given PrEP – a drug used to both treat the condition and prevent it – which he said costs £11,000 annually per person.
Asked by journalists after the event to clarify who the doctors were or where they were from, the Reform leader refused to do so.
He also said he had not spoken to the British Medical Association or the Royal College of GPs about the issue, but “absolutely” plans to.
Lord Offord also went on to say he was not racist for discussing immigration.
“We have a terrific track record of integration of people who come to our country, who contribute, who work, who put more in than they take out, who learn the language, who integrate with us and yet they retain their own culture and identity,” he said.
“We love that, we love that diversity, of course we do.
“But this idea that we’ve become the food bank of the world or the health service of the world is not right and it’s not fair.
“I think that’s something that we’re hearing now – Scots are saying enough’s enough.”
He added: “I’ve raised the stakes this evening by talking about this, by giving you my personal observations and experiences, and no doubt I will be pilloried again in the press for being a racist and for stirring something up.
“I’m not – I’ve never been that in my life.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said Mr Farage’s target for 2031 would mean an SNP-led government returned in May.
“Nigel Farage has let the cat out of the bag,” she said.
“His despicable comments underline the reality of what Reform are all about.
“They do not care about Scotland’s public services, and they do not care about meeting our country’s needs.
“They want to infect Scotland’s politics with their bile.
“Reform’s campaign is a circus built on division, setting Scot against Scot and community against community.”
Earlier on Monday, SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney described Mr Farage as a “right-wing extremist” whose views “have no place in Scotland”.
“They want to cut Scotland’s budget, close down our Parliament and would privatise our NHS if they ever got a whiff of power – so I am not going to let them,” he said.
“Labour and the Lib Dems have been clear that they would be willing to rely on Reform votes after the election if it meant getting into power.
“That should show people in Scotland just how far those parties have fallen from their founding principles.
“We cannot risk giving Farage influence by the back door – and the way to ensure he is locked out of power is by uniting and delivering a majority SNP government that is on Scotland’s side.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives said: “Nigel Farage has made it clear once again he’s relaxed about the SNP staying in power for another five years.
“That is no surprise when his party are fielding pro-independence candidates and Lord Offord has failed to rule out another referendum.
“If we are to move on from two decades of SNP failure, pro-UK voters must unite around the Scottish Conservatives on the peach ballot paper to stop an SNP majority.”
