An SNP majority at the Scottish election would “stop Nigel Farage at the border”, John Swinney has said.
The First Minister said a vote for his party would lock Reform UK out of power at Holyrood.
The SNP leader, who is campaigning in the south of Scotland on Thursday, reiterated his claims that other parties were willing to do a “grubby deal” with Reform.
“The SNP wants to bring down people’s bills, and the other parties led by Reform want to stop us,” he said.
“Reform and the other parties want people to vote for an opposition to stop things from happening – I want people to vote for an SNP government to get things done, bring down the cost of food, reduce the cost of the commute and expand support for childcare.
“That is the choice on the ballot paper one week from today – and by uniting behind the SNP, people in Scotland can stop Nigel Farage at the border.”
Mr Swinney said his party was the only one strong enough to beat Reform in the south of Scotland and across the country, adding: “We will never do a grubby deal with Nigel Farage and Lord Offord.”
He went on: “The best way to ensure we keep Reform out of power is by electing a majority SNP government – one that supports people with the cost of living, locks out Nigel Farage and delivers the fresh start of independence.
“But we have to make it happen – that opportunity is in Scotland’s hands.
“So one week today, I am asking people to vote SNP for a government on Scotland’s side and for my reliable, trusted leadership that will support people with the cost of living.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain said: “People are looking around for change because they have been failed by 19 years of SNP neglect.
“All across Scotland, it is the Scottish Liberal Democrats who are taking the fight to Reform.
“In the most recent TV debate, it was Alex Cole-Hamilton who challenged Malcolm Offord over Nigel Farage saying that a ban on handguns was ‘ludicrous’ and ‘knee-jerk’ following the Dunblane shooting.
“At this election, you can reject both SNP failure and the poison of Reform by voting for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on your second, peach, regional ballot paper.”
Rachael Hamilton, deputy leader of the Scottish Tories, said: “John Swinney is once again talking up Reform because he knows they are a gift to his party and will help them stay in power.
“The reality is that it is the Scottish Conservatives who are best placed to stop the SNP in the south of Scotland.
“Swinney knows that we stopped his party winning a majority in 2016 and 2021 by winning the blue wall across the border.
“And we can do it again. Voters in this area should use both their ballot papers to vote for the Scottish Conservatives on May 7 to stop the nightmare scenario of an SNP majority and their fresh demands for another referendum.”
