So, is it deal or no deal with Labour? Reform still aren't sure as Thomas Kerr says Anas Sarwar 'could prop us up'

By MICHAEL BLACKLEY SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL Published: 20:41, 22 April 2026 | Updated: 20:41, 22 April 2026 Splits in Reform UK widened on Wednesday as a senior figure said the party would be prepared to strike a deal with Labour – but only if it is in second place. Glasgow councillor Thomas Kerr initially claimed that there will be ‘no deals with us and Labour’ and that it is ‘nonsense’ to suggest Reform could help Anas Sarwar secure power. But he then went on to say that Labour ‘could prop us up’ if Reform becomes the second-largest party and the SNP is unable to form an administration. Reform’s Scottish leader Lord Malcolm Offord said that ‘under no circumstances’ could he work with Mr Sarwar, while Graham Simpson, the party’s only MSP in the last parliament term, opened the door to a deal with Labour. Asked about the prospect of a deal with Labour, Mr Kerr said: ‘The idea I would prop up Anas Sarwar simply because he prefers the Union Jack to a saltire is nonsense for me.  'Reform is consistently polling second place, there was a poll out just this week that showed there is a unionist majority inside the Scottish parliament if that poll came to fruition but we are second place. Reform's Thomas Kerr has a go at pulling a pint at the Woodend Pub in Glasgow  ‘Malcolm Offord is then in pole position to be First Minister – the question for Anas Sarwar is would he work with us?’ He said he could work with any party on delivering Reform priorities but would not install a First Minister whose party is in third place, and said Labour is ‘SNP-lite’ and that an ‘unstable’ government would allow the nationalist parties to rise again. Asked if he is open to a deal with Labour if Reform is in second place, he said that ‘they could prop us up’. He said: ‘Whoever is the biggest party will have the first right to form a government, that is John Swinney. ‘If that doesn’t work it is up to the second-largest party, I intend that to be Malcolm Offord and Reform UK.  'We will then try and form some kind of stable government, it is up to Anas Sarwar to answer the question of whether or not he would then work with us to put Malcolm into Bute House or would he rather have five more years of rotten John Swinney in power?’ Earlier this week, Mr Sarwar also claimed that Mr Simpson had told him Lord Offord is ‘useless’ and Mr Kerr is a ‘weasel’. Asked about the claims, Mr Kerr said: ‘He phoned me before the story broke to assure me he did not call me a weasel. My response was I’ve been called a lot worse.’ Meanwhile, Lord Offord confirmed to ITV Border he has told his candidates not to endorse far-Right activist Tommy Robinson. It followed the row over Senga Beresford, Reform’s candidate for Galloway and West Dumfries, endorsing Mr Robinson and replying ‘me’ to a post on social media from the deputy leader of the Britain First party which said: ‘In the UK Muslims are demanding that sharia law is implemented. I demand that we deport the lot of them. Who’s with me?’ Mr Kerr said: ‘She didn’t endorse Tommy Robinson, she supported the work he had done on the grooming gangs scandal, which I think a lot of people can genuinely acknowledge there has been some good work that he has done on that specific issue.’ Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: ‘Lord Offord is too spineless to stand up to his candidates – even when they are backing the mass deportation of Scots for their religion.’ No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.