Reform's bid to criminalise Gaelic is 'despicable anti-Scottish' proposal, says SNP
The SNP has accused Reform of a move “all too reminiscent of the brutal anti-Gaelic laws of the Highland Clearances”.
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has been accused of “attempting to criminalise election materials written in Scottish languages” amid an attempt to ban Gaelic from election material.
Reform has tabled an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill, which is being considered by the House of Commons. Under the plans, any use of Gaelic in election materials would be prohibited.
Around 70,000 people in Scotland can speak Gaelic - while an additional 60,00 people have some understanding of the language. The language is mostly spoken by those on Na h-Eileanan Siar and in the Highlands and Islands.
Under the Scottish Languages Act, Gaelic and Scots are recognised as official languages in Scotland.
READ MORE: Scottish Government officials accused of censoring experts who warned Gaelic will die out
The plans, tabled by Reform deputy leader Richard Tice, state that election material would only be allowed in English or Welsh. As well as Gaelic, the proposal could also penalise the use of Scots and potentially campaign videos in British Sign Language.
The amendment states that “a person shall not print or publish, or cause to be printed or published, any bill, placard, poster or printed document” that is not in English or Welsh.
It is thought the amendment is intended to ban the use of languages including Urdu or Bengali being used in elections, after Reform criticised the Greens using Urdu in the Gorton and Denton by-election,
Reform has now claimed that the amendment is would only apply in England and Wales. However, the amendment text sets out penalties for breaking any new restrictions “in Scotland or Northern Ireland” as well as England and Wales.
It adds that someone publishing election material in another language could be jailed for up to six months and face a fine.
Mr Tice’s amendment has been formally supported by fellow Reform MPs Lee Anderson, Sarah Pochin, Danny Kruger, Robert Jenrick, Andrew Rosindell and Suella Braverman .
SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands, Maree Todd, said: “This despicable anti-Scottish amendment is deeply telling – Reform wants to see any trace of our native languages removed from Scottish politics.
“We know Reform could not care less about Scotland, but this move is all too reminiscent of the brutal anti-Gaelic laws of the Highland Clearances.
Torcuil Crichton, Labour MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar and the only Gaelic-speaking MP in the House of Commons, said: “Much of my election material is in Gaelic - do Reform want to outlaw me in my own country?
“This narrow-minded amendment which will never reach the statute book tells you everything you need to know about Reform and their blinkered view of the diverse multilingual, multicultural country Britain really is.
“Through their nativist goggles they can’t see one of the oldest languages in the British Isles, but I see them and I recognise their slanted prejudices for what they are.”
Highlands and Islands MSP for Reform UK Max Bannerman, said: “As a highlander who is a keen supporter of the Gaelic language and Scotland’s rich cultural heritage, I can guarantee that Reform UK is committed to protecting the linguistic heritage of Britain.
“This amendment was drafted for application in England and Wales, not Scotland and Northern Ireland. It was about preserving the integrity of elections and ensuring that they are fought in domestic languages, not Urdu or Bengali. This is not about diminishing Scotland’s identity or heritage.”
He added: “That’s why I’m exploring introducing a Bill to the Scottish Parliament to ensure that future Scottish elections are fought in Gaelic, Scots and English only.”
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