Reform UK Scotland has launched its 2026 election manifesto while confirming a full slate of candidates across the Highlands and Islands, signalling a clear push into one of Scotland’s most geographically significant regions.
The party says it is positioning itself as a voice for working people, with leader Malcolm Offord outlining plans focused on tax cuts, public services and law and order ahead of the Scottish Parliament election.
Among the key proposals is an immediate reduction in income tax, aligning Scotland with the rest of the UK’s three band system and cutting rates by 1p below each band.
Reform UK says the move would increase take home pay, particularly for public sector workers including NHS staff.
The manifesto also commits to the creation of a Scottish Healthcare Reform Commission within six months, aimed at overhauling NHS Scotland.
Housing policy is another focus, with a pledge to restore the local connection rule, allowing councils to prioritise local applicants for housing.
The party has also set out plans to abolish the Hate Crime Act and introduce tougher sentencing for repeat offenders, alongside measures to tackle what it describes as rising shoplifting.
Malcolm Offord said:
“All I hear is that Scottish people are fed up, and I believe them.
“This manifesto is for people who want to work hard, earn and succeed, who want better healthcare, decent roads and thriving high streets.”
He also criticised current economic and environmental policies, arguing that industries and jobs are being lost due to what he described as ideological approaches to net zero.
Alongside its policy platform, Reform UK has confirmed candidates across the Highlands and Islands, covering key constituencies from Argyll and Bute to Shetland.
The selected candidates are Amanda Hampsey for Argyll and Bute, Steve Welsh for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Fred Campbell for Inverness and Nairn, Max Bannerman for Moray, Malcolm McTaggart for Na h Eileanan an Iar, John Coupland for Orkney Islands, Vic Currie for Shetland Islands, and Jon Whitton for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
The spread reflects a broad geographic reach across the north and island communities, areas often central to debates on energy, housing and rural services.
The party’s message is built around economic change and a shift in direction, with a focus on reducing tax, reforming services and challenging current policy approaches.
Reform UK has set out its election offer alongside a full Highlands and Islands candidate list, as it looks to build support ahead of the vote in May.
