Reform UK shared a post on Twitter/X citing a statistic that one in three Glasgow schoolkids do not speak English as a first language, according to Scottish Government figures.

Farage then goes on in a video to say this is “not diversity” and instead represents the “cultural smashing” of Glasgow.

The Reform UK leader says: “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?”

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (Image: PA)

He has pledged to make this statistic about Glasgow schoolchildren a “big issue” in his Scottish campaign.

His comments have sparked fury across the country, with many branding him “racist” and “disgusting”.

Blair Anderson, a Green councillor for the Partick East and Kelvindale area of the city, told The National Farage’s comments were “dangerous” and a sign the party just wants to “bash immigrants”.

He said: “Farage going after Glasgow’s children for knowing languages other than English would be laughable if it wasn’t so dangerous.

“We should be proud that so many of Glasgow’s young people can use multiple languages. We expect our children to learn other languages in school so attacking kids for knowing other languages is nonsense.

“For people who have made Glasgow their home, we offer excellent support for learning and using English as a new language. That’s a warm Glasgow welcome which supports people to integrate and get involved in their new communities.

“Attacks on children learning and using English is proof if we needed it that Reform don’t care about integration, they just want to bash immigrants.

“Glasgow’s schools have already had to face disgusting attacks from keyboard racists. Farage, Reform UK and Glasgow’s own Reform councillors need to stop before we see further attacks on Glasgow’s schools.”

The statistic about schoolchildren who are learning English has largely been honed in on by right-wing newspapers which are also branding Glasgow Britain’s “asylum capital”.

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson also shared the video saying Reform UK needed to “rescue our Scottish cousins” because of this statistic, adding that one in three SNP MPs “don’t have a basic grasp of common sense”.

It comes just days after Gaelic and Scots became official languages through the Scottish Languages Act . This empowers parents to ask for a Gaelic school to be established in their area and aims to ensure that more qualifications are available in the language.

SNP MSP Alasdair Allan, who is a fluent Gaelic speaker, told The National Farage’s comments were “sad but predictable”.

He said: “Scotland has always been a multilingual nation and following St Andrew’s Day I am delighted that this is now official with Scottish Gaelic and Scots added as official languages. 

“Bilingualism and multilingualism, whether in those languages or any other, only help a child’s learning abilities in English.

“It is sad but predictable to see that Reform fail to understand that. Why they seem intent on campaigning against children and against learning languages is beyond me.”

Farage’s comments come after Keir Starmer earlier this year was branded a “Little Englander” for telling migrants “you should speak English” as part of a series of measures aimed at reducing the number of people coming to the UK.

Maggie Chapman (Image: Christian Gamauf)

On Farage’s video, Green MSP Maggie Chapman added: “Reform is setting a deeply racist agenda with their only real policy focused on punishing migrants and people of colour.

“Across the world, English is spoken by many as a second language only because British imperialism and colonialism forced it to become so prevalent. Glasgow has always been proud of its reputation as a welcoming city that supports immigrants. Yet, Farage and co seek to divide and conquer – by picking on children. 

“It is very concerning to see a party pushing such vile views. This is not the Scotland that we ought to be. Immigration enriches all of our lives and it is  crucial for creating a strong, diverse society with a skilled workforce.

“It is crucial that we reject Farage and Reform at the polls and every day, and that we show him that his anti-migrant rhetoric holds no place in a modern Scotland.”