THE SNP has accused Reform UK of a “despicable” and “anti-Scottish” attempt to criminalise the use of Gaelic and Scots in election materials.

The claim comes after Reform deputy leader Richard Tice tabled an amendment to the Westminster government’s Representation of the People Bill, which would require election materials, such as placards, posters and leaflets, to be in English or Welsh.

In the unlikely event the amendment — so far only backed by Reform MPs — should pass, using any other language would risk a six-month prison sentence or a fine.

Urging Reform to drop the proposals, SNP Highlands and Island MSP Maree Todd said: “This despicable anti-Scottish amendment is deeply telling – Reform wants to see any trace of our native languages removed from Scottish politics.

“Not content with plans to cut our MSPs and ‘review’ the powers of Holyrood, (Reform leader Nigel) Farage and his cronies want to threaten jail time upon anyone in Scotland who publishes political materials in Scots or Gaelic.

“We know Reform could not care less about Scotland, but this move is all too reminiscent of the brutal anti-Gaelic laws of the Highland Clearances.

“Reform must now do the right thing — apologise to the people of Scotland for attempting to criminalise election materials written in Scottish languages and immediately withdraw this outrageous amendment.”

Insisting it “is not about diminishing Scotland’s identity or heritage,” Reform MSP for the Highlands and Islands, Max Bannerman, said: “This amendment was drafted for application in England and Wales, not Scotland and Northern Ireland.”

Revealing the aim was in fact to marginalise other languages, he added: “It was about preserving the integrity of elections and ensuring that they are fought in domestic languages, not Urdu or Bengali.”