Labour Party and Reform UK have been accused of avoiding scrutiny after declining to take part in a high profile election debate ahead of May’s Scottish elections.
The row centres on a scheduled hustings event hosted by The National, where candidates from several parties are expected to set out their positions to voters.
It is understood that both parties have refused to field representatives for the debate, prompting criticism from opponents who argue the decision limits public engagement.
Jack Middleton, the SNP candidate for Aberdeen Central, described the absence as “embarrassing” and questioned the willingness of rival parties to defend their positions in public.
The debate forms part of a wider series of events designed to give voters direct access to candidates in the run up to polling day, with participation often seen as a key test of visibility and accountability.
Commenting, Jack Middleton said:
“The Scottish Labour Party and Reform UK are running scared, plain and simple.
“It is nothing shy of embarrassing.
“It is no wonder that Labour candidates are reluctant to advocate their message of “hold your nose and vote Labour” but they cannot hide from debate.
“The Westminster parties have absolutely no vision or ideas about Scotland, they have nothing to offer and if they did they’d be attending tomorrow night to tell the public about it.
“I am honoured to take forward our message about what kind of Scotland we can build with an SNP majority and a fresh start through independence, only a vote for the SNP can unlock independence and lock out Nigel Farage.”
The absence of two major parties from a public debate has raised broader questions about engagement during the campaign, particularly at a time when voters are looking for clarity on policies and priorities.
Debates such as these are often one of the few opportunities for direct comparison between candidates, making participation a significant factor in how parties present themselves to the electorate.
As the campaign continues, attention is likely to remain on how visible and accessible each party chooses to be in the final weeks before the vote.
