Elections can do strange and surprising things to folk. But we shouldn’t really be surprised with Reform UK’s latest antics in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.

Playing to the lowest common denominator and plying on people’s economic insecurity isn’t necessarily a new political tactic. But to do so as brazenly as Reform have done is stark.

The attack adverts with which they’ve targeted Anas Sarwar are, to my mind, blatant race-baiting. There can be no rational explanation nor false equivocation. They’ve not just simply taken the Scottish Labour leaders’ words out of context; they used it as a pre-text to spread misinformation and scaremongering.

Reform’s response?

Doubling down. Not giving an inch. No apology. No surrender, as Nigel has attempted to copy the exact playbook of the bold Donald. Far from showing remorse, Nigel rallied.

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Reform’s approach has even united political opponents with the First Minister condemning the advert and the SNP Chief Executive writing to Facebook company, Meta, to object to their targeted advert against........

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