Nigel Farage has defended a controversial Reform UK advert about Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

Both Labour and First Minister John Swinney have described the online video – posted ahead of a Holyrood by-election – as “blatantly racist”.

At a press conference in London, Farage played the video and accused Sarwar of introducing “sectarianism” into Scottish politics.

The advert features clips of a 2022 speech in which the Scottish Labour leader talked about wanting to see more people from the South Asian community involved in politics.

Reform added text claiming that Sarwar wanted to “prioritise the Pakistani community” – despite the Glasgow MSP not saying that in any of the subsequent clips.

Farage was asked about the controversy at his London press conference, which comes ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse next Thursday.

After playing the advert to the audience, he said: “So it was Anas Sarwar that introduced sectarianism into Scottish politics – making it perfectly clear his priority was to a certain section of the community.

“All we’ve done, all we’ve done is to put out the exact words spoken by him without any comment, we’ve said nothing, just that we will represent the people of that constituency.”

Earlier, Reform’s candidate in the by-election, Ross Lambie told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland that the advert was “absolutely not racist”.

Pressed on the fact that the Scottish Labour leader did not say he wanted to “prioritise” the Pakistani community in the clips, Lambie claimed “that’s what the whole speech is about”.

Lambie said Reform was focused on merit and did not want to “foist various minority groups into positions”.

The Reform candidate accused “the left” of trying to build a “two-tier” society and accused Sarwar of “political deflection”.

Sarwar was born in Glasgow to Pakistani Muslim parents.

Labour have accused Reform of questioning his “identity, loyalty and belonging”.

The first minister said the Scottish Labour leader “should not be subjected to that kind of racist attack”.

He called for Meta, which owns both Facebook and Instagram, to remove the advert.

Both Labour and the SNP have lodged complaints with Meta, which has been asked to comment.

Asked if she felt the advert was racist, Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate Aisha Mir said: “I think it is very much in that sphere.

“These are scummy tactics.

“People are fed up and I think there is an element of taking advantage of people’s anxieties, their stress, their challenges but they are not delivering on the issues, they are coming out with rubbish like this.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative candidate Richard Nelson faced questions about his membership of the Orange Order.

He told the BBC it would not affect his ability to hold office.

Nelson, who is also secretary of the Scottish Amalgamated Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, said both groups were “law-abiding”.

The organisations and followers of their marches have previously been accused of sectarianism.

But Nelson said he was able to represent constituents from all backgrounds.

He told the programme: “We pledge allegiance to His Majesty the King and we are not divisive at all, and people have their right to their own religion.

“Last week I met with the parish priest in Larkhall, not just the parish priest but another priest and we sat for an hour and spoke about the local community and the things that have been happening in the community.

“Everybody that comes to my surgery or contacts me, I don’t ask what religion they are. I represent everyone in our constituency.”

The candidates standing in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election are:

Katy Loudon – SNP

Davy Russell – Labour

Richard Nelson – Conservative

Ann McGuinness – Greens

Aisha Mir – Liberal Democrat

Ross Lambie – Reform

Collette Bradley – Scottish Socialist Party

Andy Brady – Scottish Family Party

Janice Mackay – UK Independence Party

Mark Wilkinson – Independent