NIGEL FARAGE’S comments on Glaswegian schoolchildren are “simply racist,” according to First Minister John Swinney.

Mr Swinney’s swipe at the Reform UK leader came after Mr Farage posted a video on social media claiming that one in three children in Glasgow schools did not have English as their first language.

Mr Farage, who faces allegations of racist bullying as a schoolboy and represents Clacton, 357 miles from Glasgow, said: “This is not diversity, as the left always preach, this actually is the cultural smashing of Glasgow.

“It’s turning it into a completely different city in every way. My question is, who voted for this? Who told anybody in Scotland this was actually happening?”

Mr Swinney said: “I think Nigel Farage’s comments are just quite simply racist. That’s what they are. There’s no other way to describe it.

“I don’t know quite when we believed that multilingualism was something of a problem in our society, and certainly not the view I take. I think it’s a benefit. I think it reflects the diversity of our country.

“I think what these comments from Nigel Farage demonstrate is that he is a purveyor of racist views and people should think about that long and hard before they think about voting for his party.”

On his recent visit to Scotland, Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented: “He’s a disgrace. He’s a toxic, divisive disgrace. All he wants to do is tear communities apart.

“I don’t go around picking and choosing, and trying to divide. I think it’s particularly poor that he’s reached right into children now to start that divide.

“All he’s interested in is the politics of grievance and the politics of division.”

Reform UK was contacted for comment.