Scottish Greens: Reform UK plan to put detention centres in Green seats is 'from Donald Trump’s playbook'

The Scottish Greens have accused Reform UK of lifting tactics “straight out of Donald Trump’s playbook” after the party outlined a plan to locate immigration detention centres in Green-held areas while sparing Reform strongholds. Co-leader Ross Greer likened the proposed facilities to “concentration camps” and said Scotland would not be “threatened and bullied” into accepting them.

On Sunday, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, said that if the party formed a government at Westminster it would not build immigration detention centres in constituencies held by Reform MPs, or where the party controls the local authority. Instead, he said Green voters would “get what they vote for” as part of Reform’s push for mass deportations.

Asked how the policy would be applied in Scotland if, as polls suggest, Nigel Farage becomes prime minister, Reform councillor Thomas Kerr said detention centres would be built in constituencies that elect Green MSPs, while areas that elect a Reform constituency MSP would be exempted.

Speaking on Tuesday, Greer called the approach “anti-democratic” and “cruel” to people seeking safety. “Reform are literally talking about migrant detention camps. The other word for that is a concentration camp,” he said, adding that the Greens were proud of Scotland’s reputation as a welcoming country and would stand in solidarity with immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

Greer also said Nigel Farage’s plans to “override Holyrood” if MSPs attempt to block legislation enabling the UK Government to build the centres were “making the case for Scottish Independence”. He argued that voters in Scotland were “too canny” to accept what he described as threats from Reform.

A Reform UK spokesperson responded: “Ross Greer and the Greens wants to abolish prisons, legalise drugs and open borders. Legal heroin and murderers roaming the streets – voters will certainly reject that.”