JOHN Swinney has said his anti-far-right summit is “just the start of the process” in combating the rise in parties like Reform UK, which he says are threats to Scotland’s democracy.
The First Minister held a cross-party summit in Glasgow, which he said demonstrated a “strength of unity” in taking action to safeguard Scotland’s democracy from the rise of the far right.
Swinney was joined by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Green co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie, Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, and Alba MSP Ash Regan, along with a host of civic and religious leaders.
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay refused to attend, saying he would only do so if the SNP changed their policy of supporting independence, while Reform UK were not invited.
Across the day, there were discussions, moderated by civic leaders, on four key themes, which are believed to be contributing to a breakdown in democratic trust, including combating inequality and discrimination, tackling disinformation, and enhancing public trust in politics.
Speaking to journalists after the discussions on Wednesday morning, Swinney said the panel had “very respectful” and “challenging” talks around the threats facing Scottish democracy.
“This has been a discussion which I would characterise as the start of a process,” he said.
“We have had a very respectful, candid, open, and challenging discussion about the issues that I wanted to draw people together to address.
“Issues that are around the challenges which we face in our society today, particularly in addressing the disaffection that some in our society face and the challenges, a variety of pressures around inequality and discrimination, around disinformation, around trust in politics, and around democratic participation.
Swinney added he would sum up the conversations had as a coming together in the spirit of addressing the challenges society faces.
“We are addressing the value of creating the common good, and the value of creating common ground with our participants,” he said.
“We have all come together in the spirit to address challenges to our democratic system of our society and to find ways of addressing that.”
The First Minister stressed there are “serious threats to our democratic system and our values in Scotland”.
He added: “I want to do everything I can to make sure I can look back with all honesty that I have done everything I can to bring people together to face the threats we are facing.”
Following discussions, participants signed a mission statement that seeks to provide a framework that can underpin specific actions and solutions to help tackle some of the issues the summit identified.
When asked by The National how Scotland's political parties plan to win back disinterested voters when Reform UK are offering up simple solutions, Swinney said: “We’ve got to get the measure of this for everybody.”
He explained that he plans on engaging with communities and having open dialogue with Scots to get a better understanding as to why voters have become disenfranchised with politics.
Swinney added: “What I am hearing from everybody from around this table, they are committed to doing [this].
“What I set out in our discussions today is that the Government will use its convening powers to bring people together.”
Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie said: “One summit on its own will of course not halt the far right or the hateful politics that they represent.
“Today’s discussion must be the beginning of a determined response across our whole society, both to challenge and oppose those who bring the far right threat, and to understand and respond to those who are alienated from the democratic process.
“Scotland badly needs change, but it has to be rooted in bold action to build a fairer, greener and better country. It also needs honesty about just how extreme the threat to democracy and human rights has become.
“The UK has allowed the growth of an increasingly hostile environment for refugees, migrant communities and other minority groups, made worse by 15 years of cuts and austerity, and too many politicians still behave as though they can defeat the far right by copying them. That will never work.
“All parties must reject the scapegoating and empty slogans from a cynical billionaire-backed party like Reform, but we also have a responsibility to offer people real hope and change.”
