Latest news with #ThomasKerr
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Nigel Farage set for slot on BBC election debates... despite having no MSPs
Nigel Farage is set to secure a high-profile slot in the BBC's leaders' debate ahead of next year's Holyrood elections - despite his party having no MSPs. Early informal talks have already taken place about the debates, with BBC Scotland representatives making clear that Reform UK will join the other five main parties at Holyrood on its broadcast. BBC sources also said that it will be up to Reform, which does not have a Scottish leader, to decide whether to put up Mr Farage or one of its candidates in Scotland. Reform UK confirmed that he will take the opportunity to take part in any Scottish debates. The BBC is taking a different approach to ITV Cymru in Wales, which indicated that anyone taking part in its leaders' debate must be a candidate for the Senedd. Reform UK's Glasgow councillor Thomas Kerr said: 'It is fully our intention to have Nigel on the debates. 'If diaries fix up and everything else then Nigel Farage will be the one who represents us on those TV debates. 'I know there's been an issue in Wales about whether or not they were having Nigel on the debates and they came out and said no. 'I've not had that feeling from the broadcasters when we've spoken to them, I don't think they are going to have that issue in Scotland. 'To be honest with you, I think they quite like the idea of Nigel being on the debates and giving it a bit more fun and flavour.' BBC Scotland was previously embroiled in a row with the late former First Minister Alex Salmond in 2021 after ruling that his Alba Party could not take part in its debate, which only featured the five main parties represented at Holyrood. But a source at the Corporation confirmed that Reform will take part because of its strong current polling and its performance in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, as well as numerous local by-elections - and that it will be free to decide who takes part. Reform was also offered a place on STV's by-election debate, which did not trigger concerns from the other parties. Mr Kerr said: 'We are more relevant in the conversation in Scottish politics than even the Scottish Tories or the Lib Dems at the moment, so it would be bizarre not to have Reform on it. 'If you're looking for evidential facts, which Alba never really had, we are polling second place in Scotland, if not just below in third place quite comfortably, and the Hamilton by-election has shown we are one of the three main parties being able to fight in a seat like that that became a three-way marginal.' A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: 'Considering so many of their candidates are pro-independence, we look forward to seeing who Reform put forward.' The SNP is not expected to resist Mr Farage taking part - even though John Swinney previously held a summit to 'lock out' his party from Holyrood, with a party source saying: 'We won't put up a fight because there is a case there for them.' The BBC already handed Mr Kerr from Reform a place on its panel for its Question Time programme when it was filmed in St Andrews on Thursday. A BBC Scotland spokesman said: 'We'll announce our plans for coverage of next year's election in due course.' Broadcast regulator Ofcom ruled following Alba's 2021 complaint that the BBC's decision to exclude the party 'did not raise concerns under Section Five and Six of our Broadcasting Code'. It said: 'Under our Broadcasting Code, election programmes must comply with special impartiality requirements. 'This means they must preserve due impartiality and include and give due weight to an appropriately wide range of significant views and perspectives. 'Broadcasters must also give due weight to the coverage of parties during the election period, taking into account evidence of past electoral support and/or current support.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Question Time sees woman share 10-year health battle in debate on 'failing' NHS
Question Time on BBC One tonight featured a debate around the NHS in Scotland and how one in three people are turning to private healtcare due to long waiting lists A woman described how she felt she was "failed" by the NHS on two separate occasions in a poignant moment on tonight's Question Time. This week's debate took place in St Andrews in Fife, Scotland with host Fiona Bruce sitting on the panel alongside Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Anas Sarwar MSP, Andrew Bowie MP, Thomas Kerr and Lesley Riddoch. A large part of the BBC show tonight was centered around whether Scotland's NHS is "dying before our eyes". Anas Sarwar, leader Scottish labour highlighted how one in three people are forced to go private for healthcare and one audience member explained how she was part of that shocking statistic. The female audience member asked, "I'd just be interested to know how you measure the improvements that you're seeing in the NHS if you're saying that the waiting lists are going down? Is it not just because more people are going private? Just today I was getting a private surgery having been failed by the NHS twice." The woman, who did not disclose the nature of the surgery she needed, went on to explain how she was forced to turn to private healthcare after being "failed" by the NHS on two separate occasions. She added: "I first got this looked at nearly 10 years ago by an NHS specialist dermatologist who didn't think there was anything to be concerned about, I followed up again a year ago, I was told the same thing and I'm not blaming these doctors who are very pushed for time, I work in healthcare myself but then I went to see a private doctor because I am fortunate to have the means to be able to pay for private health insurance and as soon as they saw it they immediately rushed me to have it removed. But I firmly believe that healthcare should be accessible to everyone and it should be equal, but I've kind of been forced into this situation where I don't want to deny myself the healthcare that I can afford but it shouldn't be at the expense of others." In response Thomas Kerr, representing Reform UK, explained "too many people are going private," and said "the NHS isn't working in it's current system, it does have to be looked into and it does have to be reformed". He added: "Just throwing money at it doesn't work, we've seen that time and time again, we've had record funding in th NHS that is still not working for people on the ground." When asked by Fiona if he supported the idea of a mixed economy like the French system he added: "As long as healthcare is free at the point of need for anyone who needs it then I don't mind where someone gets their healthcare at all. If you can afford it and you want to pay it privately then that's entirely up to a person individually." He went on to address the problem in Scotland of the number of doctors leaving the NHS, he said: "We have a higher tax system in Scotland which is making people who are learning in our universities like here in St Andrews are then leaving to go down to England or to go travel abroad, I think we have to look at the tax system in Scotland to make sure it is fair to try and keep our home grown talent here to make sure the NHS works." Mr Kerr was then grilled about Brexit by broadcaster and commentator Lesley Riddoch. She said: "Right Thomas, what happened to the £380m quid a week we were going to get from Brexit?" She went on to say: "We've got a bit of a mess going on with healthcare here, we've got a static life expectancy which is shameful given the amount of wealth there is in this country and overall our health is not great." Question Time has now finished for the summer, it will be back on our screens in September.
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Question Time called out as Reform councillor on St Andrews panel
Thomas Kerr, a Glasgow councillor who defected from the Tories, is due to take part in the flagship debate programme on Thursday night from St Andrews. All of Reform UK's Scottish politicians are defectors from the Tories or Scottish Labour. They have not won an election north of the Border. Kerr will join Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Tory MP Andrew Bowie and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch on the programme. READ MORE: Patrick Harvie and Angus Robertson face-off over Israel divestment A number of social media users pointed out that both the Scottish Greens and Scottish LibDems have more elected representatives than Reform, but are not as frequently platformed by the broadcaster. Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: 'Reform and the politics they represent are a direct threat to Scotland. We all saw what they were really about during the Hamilton by-election – where they ran a campaign of hate-fuelled prejudice and misinformation, showing themselves to be a racist, far-right party. 'Long before his rise in the opinion polls, the BBC gave Nigel Farage an extraordinarily high profile, as one of the most regular faces at the Question Time table. Now, they are doing the same in Scotland where his latest political vehicle has never had so much as a local councillor elected. 'It is frankly bizarre that the BBC has chosen to platform a representative of a party with zero electoral track record, and a party whose politics have been shown to be dishonest, divisive and dangerous.' Tomorrow, Question Time is in St Andrews Joining Fiona are Anas Sarwar, Andrew Bowie, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Thomas Kerr, and Lesley Riddoch 9pm on the @BBCNews channel, @BBCiPlayer and @BBCSounds, or @BBCOne at 10:40pm Apply now: — BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) June 25, 2025 A spokesperson for the BBC said: 'Question Time is a national programme which must be relevant to audiences across the UK and reflect a wide range of political views. "We continue to seek a range of views when Question Time comes to Scotland and across this series, our panels have had representation from the various political parties, including the Scottish Greens and Liberal Democrats. 'We also take account of the most recent electoral performance and electoral movement since the election. "Reform have consistently polled strongly all across the UK and in a recent Scottish Parliamentary by-election (Hamilton, Rutherglen and Stonehouse), Reform polled 26% of the vote, and finished third, behind Labour and SNP.' Kerr's inclusion on the programme sparked a strong reaction online. SNP MSP James Dornan said: 'Once again we see the once unknown Tory councillor Thomas Kerr on BBC. I have no doubt at all that him deserting that sinking ship to join Reform had absolutely nothing to do with it of course.' Scottish Greens Glasgow councillor Jon Molyneux added: 'Thomas Kerr has more time for TV cameras than he does for his constituents. He's not contributed to a council meeting for six months. 'Too much like hard work or running scared? He should do the job taxpayers pay him for and open up his snake oil to proper scrutiny.' READ MORE: SNP MPs join Labour rebels in bid to kill off benefit cuts On social media user said: 'When was the last time, BBC Question Time had a 'councillor' from a political party? They are so desperate to platform Reform.' Another added: 'Reform, again. No elected representatives in Scotland, but let's promote them anyway at the expense of the other parties who do have elected politicians.' One said simply: 'Again where are the Liberal Democrats or the Greens, Might as well just call it the Reform show #bbcbias.' It comes as a new MRP poll from YouGov, released on Thursday morning, predicted Reform winning three Westminster seats in Scotland.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Complaint over Reform councillor's record since defection
Thomas Kerr, defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK earlier this year. At the meeting of the full council today, Green councillor, Jon Molyneux, took an opportunity to highlight councillor Kerr's record since he made the switch. Councillor Kerr defended his record in representing his Shettleston ward. Molyneux raised a point of order at the start of the meeting. He said: 'It has been six months since Thomas Kerr defected to Reform.' He added in that time, 'He hasn't raised a question, hasn't spoken in a debate or produced a budget proposal'. READ NEXT:Bus boss tells MSP to 'get on his bike and leave transport to the adults' READ NEXT: Patrick Harvie MSP calls for publicly owned bus firm in Glasgow Molyneux asked if this was acceptable under the Local Government Act rules on councillors' attendance requirements. A council official said that the Act refers to attendance rather than participation. Councillor Kerr said: "I work day in day out for the people of Shettleston, and will continue to do so. 'It'll be my community who will judge my efforts, not political opponents. 'Reform's popularity is growing and the City Chambers establishment better get used to it."
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Former Tory MP Ross Thomson joins Reform
His move comes after Thomas Kerr, the former leader of the Scottish Tories on Glasgow City Council, defected to Reform in January. On the move to Reform, Mr Thomson, who was MP for Aberdeen South from 2017 to 2019, said: "I am pleased to confirm that I have joined Reform UK. "Only Reform UK have the courage to take on, and the answers to, the big issues facing the North East, Scotland and the United Kingdom. READ MORE: "Nigel Farage leads with conviction, courage, and above all, he listens. He is the only national leader who understands the serious challenges facing the North East of Scotland — and what it will take to make our region thrive again. "Only Reform UK is standing up for our oil and gas industry that has been betrayed by all the establishment parties. The Conservatives introduced the Windfall Tax. Now Labour are doubling down and the SNP cheered them on. "The fishing industry has been similarly sold out. Fishermen have been treated as expendable by Labour, Conservative and the SNP politicians for too long. Only Reform will fight to ensure our waters remain ours — and our fishermen get the support they need to thrive. "In the North East, as in the rest of Scotland, it is now Reform UK that is best placed, and strong enough, to defeat the SNP and finally rid us of this rotten, divisive SNP government that has failed us all. "Reform UK is the no nonsense, common sense, voice Scotland needs. To sort a broken Holyrood system that's in desperate need of change. Scotland needs Reform. That is why I am proud to be part of it."
