Scottish Family Party

{{Short description|Conservative political party in Scotland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox political party

| name = Scottish Family Party

| abbreviation = SFP

| logo =

| logo_size =

| colorcode = #2a4b84

| leader =

| leader1_title = Founder

| leader1_name = Richard Lucas

| leader2_title = Leader

| leader2_name = Richard Lucas

| leader3_title = Chairman

| leader3_name = Leo Lanahan{{cite web |date=23 April 2020 |title=Remember the taxpayer funded adult movie? Culture Capture. Consent to torture. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IziRuiQPnJc |access-date=29 January 2025 |author=Scottish Family Party |via=YouTube}}

| foundation = {{Start date and age|2017|7}}

| headquarters = 272 Bath Street
Glasgow
Scotland
G2 4JR

| registered = {{Start date and age|2017|09|11|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Registrations/PP6380|title=View registration|publisher=The Electoral Commission}}

| position = Right-wing{{cite news|url=https://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/north-west-sutherland-man-is-list-candidate-for-scottish-family-party-in-holyrood-election-230121/|title=North west Sutherland man is list candidate for Scottish Family Party in Holyrood election|last=McMorran|first=Caroline|date=7 March 2021|work=Northern Times|accessdate=6 November 2022}}

| ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap|

|Christian right

|Social conservatism{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56745667|title=Scottish election 2021: Family Party propose council tax cuts for parents|date=14 April 2021|publisher=BBC News}}

|Anti-abortion

|Anti-LGBT{{cite web|url=https://scottishfamily.org/manifesto|title=Manifesto|publisher=Scottish Family Party}}}}

| seats1_title = Scottish Parliament

| seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|129}}

| seats2_title = Local government in Scotland

| seats2 = {{Composition bar|0|1227}}

| country = Scotland

| country2 = the United Kingdom

| website = {{URL|https://scottishfamily.org/}}

| colours = {{colour box|{{party color|Scottish Family Party}}}} Blue

}}

The Scottish Family Party (SFP) is a socially conservative political party in Scotland. It was formed in 2017{{Cite news |date=26 April 2022 |title=Scottish Family Party to focus on education in council elections |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-61221446 |access-date=8 January 2022}} and is led by former UKIP member and registered teacher{{cite news |url=https://mygtcs.gtcs.org.uk/home/search-the-register-public.aspx |title=Search the Register |work=MyGTCS |publisher=General Teaching Council for Scotland |accessdate=2 November 2024}} Richard Lucas.

When launched in 2017, the SFP said its "central goal" was to gain election to the Scottish Parliament and "to fill the void" left behind by the current parties and their abandoning of "Judeo-Christian-inspired values of traditional Western civilisation".{{cite news |last=Learmonth |first=Andrew |date=19 August 2017 |title=New 'Scottish Family Party' leader defends Jo Cox joke and comparison of same-sex marriage and incest |language=en |work=The National |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/15483217.new-scottish-family-party-leader-defends-jo-cox-joke-and-comparison-of-same-sex-marriage-and-incest/ |access-date=20 November 2020}} According to party leader Richard Lucas, they intend to be the party "to confront the cosy Holyrood consensus, interrupting the monochrome virtue-signalling that currently passes for debate in many areas".{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/15479357.agenda-confronting-cosy-holyrood-consensus/|title=Agenda: Confronting the cosy Holyrood consensus|last=Lucas|first=Richard|date=18 August 2017|website=The Herald|access-date=20 August 2020|language=en}} It also aims to be "pro-family, pro-marriage, pro-life, pro-freedom of speech, anti-identity politics, that values the complementary contributions of men and women and recommends schools refocus on education instead of social engineering, radical gender ideology and political moulding".

The SFP contested their first seats in the 2019 UK general election, and also fielded candidates at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election and the 2022 Scottish local elections, but has never won any seats.{{cite web |title=Known candidates for each ballot in the UK Parliament elections |url=https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/elections/parl.2019-12-12/ |accessdate=1 December 2019 |publisher=Democracy Club Candidates}}{{Cite news |last=Elliards |first=Xander |date=10 November 2022 |title='Disgusting': Scottish Family Party plans protest at Sandyford Clinic |work=The National |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23116281.disgusting-scottish-family-party-plans-protest-sandyford-clinic/ |access-date=8 January 2023}}

Party ideology and policy

= Family policy =

The SFP believes that 'Strong families make for a strong nation' and has proposals to help families with their finances such as giving cash in lieu of free nursery provision to those families who chose to have one parent not work and look after their children.{{Cite web |title=supporting families| url=https://scottishfamily.org/manifesto | access-date=9 November 2024 }} The party thinks that married couples should be assessed for income tax as a family rather than as individuals, with tax allowances fully transferable between each spouse.{{cite news |title=Scottish Family Party: Manifesto promotes marriage |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cerrmndgnv9o |date=19 June 2024 |publisher=BBC }}

The SFP argues in favour of more autonomy for families and demands "an end to the ignoring of underage sex". The party would seek to have illegal underage sexual relations acted against rather than ignored by the police.{{Cite web |title=Supporting Families – Family Autonomy |url=https://scottishfamily.org/policies/supporting-families/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024211058/https://scottishfamily.org/policies/supporting-families/family-autonomy/ |archive-date=24 October 2020 |access-date=20 November 2020 |language=en-GB}} The SFP is against "vaguely defined" domestic abuse laws and believes people should be treated equally in this regardless of whether they are male or female. SFP recognises marriage as a "a solemn, lifelong commitment",{{Cite web |title=Supporting Families – Family Relationships |url=https://scottishfamily.org/policies/supporting-families/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024210825/https://scottishfamily.org/policies/supporting-families/family-relationships/ |archive-date=24 October 2020 |access-date=20 November 2020 |website=Scottish Family Party}}{{cite news |last=Amery |first=Rachel |date=13 April 2021 |title=Scottish Election 2021: Your guide to the country's smaller political parties |work=The Courier |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/2130103/scottish-election-2021-your-guide-to-the-countrys-smaller-political-parties/ |accessdate=1 June 2022}} and claims that "civil partnerships for heterosexual couples will further undermine the culture of marriage".{{cite web |url= https://scottishfamily.org/manifesto#family-relationships |title= Supporting families |website= scottishfamily.org |publisher= Scottish Family Party |access-date= 24 February 2024}} The SFP does not support the use of NHS resources for any fertility-related treatment apart from for a man and woman in a long-term stable relationship.

= Opposition to abortion and assisted suicide =

The SFP describes itself as pro-life, opposing both abortion and assisted suicide.{{cite web |title=SPUC's key takeaways from Scottish Family Party Manifesto 2024 |url=https://www.spuc.org.uk/Article/385681/SPUCs-key-takeaways-from-Scottish-Family-Party-Manifesto-2024 |accessdate= 9 November 2024}} During a protest at a sexual health clinic in Sandyford, Glasgow in March 2023, Lucas branded abortion providers at the clinic "killers".{{Cite web |last=McEwen |first=Alan |date=2023-03-03 |title=Sexual health clinic branded 'killers' by Scots extremist group leader |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/sexual-health-clinic-branded-killers-29356360 |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}

= Education =

The SFP believes that education should increase its focus on "traditional focuses" of "discipline, knowledge, formal teaching, and objective testing."{{Cite web |title=Reforming Education – Schools |url=https://scottishfamily.org/policies/reforming-education/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024204821/https://scottishfamily.org/policies/reforming-education/schools/ |archive-date=24 October 2020 |access-date=20 November 2020 |website=Scottish Family Party |language=en-GB}} They argue against the Curriculum for Excellence as it, "elevates subjective learner experience over teaching, undermining the intellectual authority of teachers, and uses student motivation and enjoyment as the measure of what is worth knowing".

Lucas has spoken out against rainbow flags being displayed in schools.{{cite news |last=Geddes |first=Jonathan |date=14 April 2022 |title=Political party standing in Lanarkshire accused of 'extremist' right wing views |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/political-party-standing-lanarkshire-accused-26687816 |access-date=1 June 2022 |website=Daily Record |language=en}} The party is opposed to the inclusion of certain content in sex education such as LGBTQ-inclusive and pornographic topics (both of which, it claims, are currently taught in Scottish schools). It supports education that includes the promotion of family planning and abstinence from alcohol use.

In February 2020, the SFP submitted a complaint concerning a HappyFest event that celebrated LGBT+ arts (including drag, theatre, poetry, dance, and music) at Dunbar Grammar School in East Lothian, as part of LGBT History Month. The party claimed that the event promoted "a philosophy of gender fluidity that is confusing and dangerous to young people" and that "the drag scene is often associated with less than positive values".{{cite news |date=13 February 2020 |title=Council depends HappyFest after anti-LGBT campaigners attack Dunbar Grammar School event |url=https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/18234178.happyfest-defended-anti-lgbt-campaigners-attack-event/ |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=East Lothian Courier |language=en}} A spokesperson rejected the complaints, stating that the event was run "to raise awareness and challenge prejudice."

= Other social issues =

The SFP believes the gender pay gap is by and large a reflection of personal choices and the natural differences between men and women, and no government action is required to address it.{{Cite web| title=Our vision for a better Scotland | year=2021 | url=https://scottishfamily.org/downloads/SFP-Manifesto-2021.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416174849/https://scottishfamily.org/downloads/SFP-Manifesto-2021.pdf | archive-date=2021-04-16}}

In October and December 2022, the party held protests at the Scottish Parliament opposing reform to the Gender Recognition Act.{{cite news |last=Garton-Crosbie |first=Abbi |date=27 October 2022 |title=Anti-LGBT protesters at Scottish Parliament drowned out by chants of 'trans joy' |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23082801.anti-lgbt-protesters-scottish-parliament-drowned-chants-trans-joy/ |access-date=8 January 2023 |work=The National}}{{cite news |last=Simons |first=Ned |date=22 December 2022 |title=UK Government Could Try And Block Scotland's Gender Recognition Bill |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/uk-government-could-try-and-block-scotlands-gender-recognition-bill_uk_63a47902e4b098c9b206a9ad |access-date=8 January 2023 |work=The Huffington Post}}

Controversies

= Offensive comments, arguments and opinions =

In August 2017, Lucas was criticised for suggesting that the arguments used to justify same-sex marriage could equally be used to justify incest. Additionally, he denied allegations that he had posted a joke about the murder of Jo Cox shortly after her death, saying he had instead been criticising others who were seeking to use her murder as a reason to vote Remain.

In February 2021, having previously criticised Ruth Davidson in a YouTube broadcast for seeking to have a "fatherless child", the General Teaching Council for Scotland cleared Lucas of misconduct and allowed him to remain a registered teacher.{{cite news |last=McLaughlin |first=Mark |date=17 February 2021 |title=Head of Robert Gordon's College says Ruth Davidson teacher 'unfit' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/head-of-robert-gordons-college-says-ruth-davidson-teacher-unfit-zfgbjdrtd |url-access=subscription |access-date=12 May 2023 |work=The Times |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}{{Cite web |last=Patrick |first=Philip |date=2021-02-25 |title=The cautionary tale of the Christian teacher who criticised Ruth Davidson |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-cautionary-tale-of-the-christian-teacher-who-criticised-ruth-davidson/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=The Spectator}}

On 29 August 2022, the SFP tweeted a picture of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outside Auschwitz, with a cartoon thought bubble reading: "There should have been a buffer zone around this place". Green MSP Gillian Mackay, responsible for Act that created buffer zones around abortion clinics targeted by anti-abortion protesters, described the meme as "crass, insensitive and shameful" and that "even by [the SFP's] standards, this is appalling".{{cite news |author=Herald Scotland Online |date=29 August 2022 |title=Scottish Family Party blasted for 'shameful' holocaust 'joke' |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20832581.scottish-family-party-blasted-shameful-holocaust-joke/ |accessdate=13 September 2022 |work=The Herald}}

SFP was referenced in the 2022 Hope Not Hate 'State of Hate Report' claiming that the party spread an increasing amount of anti-trans and anti-LGBT+ campaign material and content on its social media, arguing that "transgender ideology is damaging and confusing children". However, the party also opposes protections for children and argues that parents should be allowed to beat their children, and it opposes the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, saying that it undermines the rights of parents. The SFP also opposes hate crime legislation.{{Cite web |date=20 February 2021 |title=STATE OF HATE 2021 – Backlash, Conspiracies & Confrontation |url=https://hopenothate.org.uk/2021/02/20/state-of-hate-2021-backlash-conspiracies-and-confrontation/ |access-date=12 May 2023 |website=HOPE not hate}}

It has been alleged that Lucas spreads misinformation about the sexual health curriculum in schools. One teacher spoke to The National newspaper, linking SFP rhetoric to abuse of LGBT+ teachers and to incidents of teachers being called perverts or groomers in the street, abused as "paedophiles" over the phone, or in the case of some LGBT+ teachers, "forced out of the profession altogether".{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23168364.row-women-scotland-director-appearing-festival-hate/|title=Row over For Women Scotland director appearing at 'festival of hate'|last=Elliards|first=Xander|date=4 December 2022|website=The National|url-access=subscription}}

= Alleged breach of electoral law =

According to The Ferret, Lucas was revealed on 27 July 2020 to have breached electoral law by failing to submit a record before the deadline of his personal campaign spending after running in the 2019 general election - he had provided information to the Electoral Commission but not the local returning officer for the constituency he contested.{{cite news |last=Mann |first=Jamie |date=27 July 2020 |title=Revealed: Scottish Family Party leader breached electoral law |url=https://theferret.scot/scottish-family-party-leader-breached-electoral-law/ |accessdate=20 May 2022 |work=The Ferret}}

= Links to far-right organisations =

In January 2023, SFP leader Richard Lucas was interviewed by Simon Crane, a prominent member of the far-right hate group Patriotic Alternative (PA) in Scotland. PA had been targeted by the UK government counter-terrorism strategy. Crane also interviewed SFP member and activist Niall Fraser. Lucas said Crane used to be a member of the Scottish Family Party (SFP), but left "after discussions with myself led him to the conclusion that PA reflected his ethno-nationalist political stance while the SFP did not". Lucas added that he takes "any opportunity to present the SFP to a new audience" and would "probably" speak to PA again.{{cite news |url=https://theferret.scot/scottish-family-party-leader-far-right-interview/ |date=19 January 2023 |last=Mann |first=Jamie |title=Scottish Family Party leader slammed for far right interview |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=theferret.scot |language=en-GB}}

In March 2023, PinkNews described the group as "far-right" due to plans to "brick up" the Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow in a protest against gender affirming care.{{cite web |last=Hansford |first=Amelia |date=2023-03-01 |title='Far-right' group planning to 'brick up' UK clinic over trans care and abortion |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/03/01/scottish-family-party-sandyford-clinic-trans/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=PinkNews }}

Fraser announced in late August 2023 that he would be contesting Margaret Ferrier's MP seat in Rutherglen and Hamilton West. According to the Daily Record, "Fraser appeared on a podcast by neo-Nazi group Homeland on which he described COVID-19 as "bogus" and said: "I didn't follow any lockdowns." Georgie Laming, campaign director at anti-extremism charity Hope Not Hate, said: "Niall Fraser and the Scottish Family Party say they're standing up for traditional family values, however the truth is very sinister. We've found they're cosying up to fascist group Homeland".{{cite news |last=Rodger |first=Hannah |date=3 September 2023 |title=Extremist who told the First Minister to f**k off now wants to be an MP |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/extremist-who-heckled-first-minister-30849057 |access-date=3 September 2023 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}

Electoral history

=2019 general election=

The SFP fielded two candidates in the 2019 United Kingdom general election: Liam McKechnie won 0.4% of the vote in Dunbartonshire East, and Richard Lucas won 0.7% of the vote in Ross, Skye & Lochaber.{{Cite news |date=2019 |title=2019 General Election: Scottish Family Party |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2019-uk-general-election-results/parties/scottish-family-party/#xj4y7vzkg |access-date=March 25, 2023}}

=2021 Scottish Parliament and 2022 local elections=

The party contested the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-election-2021-who-are-the-20-smaller-parties-running-for-holyrood-including-scottish-family-party-abolish-the-scottish-parliament-party-and-alba-3226016|title=The 20 smaller parties running in the Scottish Election including Abolish the Scottish Parliament Party and Alba|last=Brown|first=Hannah|date=5 May 2021|work=The Scotsman}} They then received 2,734 constituency votes and 16,085 list votes, but won no seats.{{Cite web |last=Sturge |first=Georgina |date=18 May 2021 |title=Scottish Parliament Elections: 2021 |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9230/CBP-9230.pdf |website=House of Commons Library |series=Briefing Paper Number CBP9230}} It also contested the 2022 Scottish local elections, fielding 84 candidates{{cite news|url=https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/politics/council/election-2022-scottish-family-party-contests-14-wards-across-fife-3677269|title=Election 2022: Scottish Family Party contests 14 wards across Fife|last=Crow|first=Alan|date=2 May 2022|work=Fife Today}} and gaining 6,857 first-preference votes (0.4% of the total vote) but again winning no seats.{{cite web|url=https://ballotbox.scot/le22-headline-results|title=LE22: The Headline Results|date=7 May 2022|publisher=Ballot Box Scotland}}

=2023 Rutherglen by-election and 2024 general election=

At the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the party fielded candidates in sixteen constituencies.{{Cite news |date=2024 |title=2024 General Election: Scottish Family Party |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-uk-election-results/parties/scottish-family-party/|access-date=July 13, 2024}} Their best result was in Na h-Eileanan an Iar, finishing seventh with 2.9% of votes cast and beating the Liberal Democrats into eighth place. They received 5,425 votes in total, finishing 9th overall in vote share in Scotland.

= United Kingdom House of Commons =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"

! rowspan="2" |Election

! rowspan="2" |Candidates

! colspan="2" |General

! rowspan="2" |Rank

! rowspan="2" |Notes

Votes

!%

2019

|2

|465

|0.001

|{{steady}} <48th in UK

|Contested East Dunbartonshire and Ross, Skye and Lochaber.

2024

|16

|5,425

|0.018

|{{increase}} 34th in UK
9th in Scotland

|

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"

! rowspan="2" |Election

! colspan="2" |By-election

! rowspan="2" |Rank

! rowspan="2" |Notes

Votes

!%

2023 Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election

|319

|1.0

|{{steady}} 7th

| bgcolor="lightgrey" |7th out of 14 candidates

=Scottish Parliament=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
rowspan="2"| Election

! colspan="3"| Regional

! rowspan="2"| Total seats

! rowspan="2"| +/–

! rowspan="2"| Rank

! rowspan="2"| Government

Votes

! %

! Seats

2021

| 16,085

| 0.59

| {{Composition bar|0|56|{{party color|Scottish_Family _Party}}}}

| {{Composition bar|0|129|{{party color|Scottish_Family _Party}}}}

| bgcolor="lightgrey"|

| {{steady}} 9th

| {{no|Not in parliament}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"

! rowspan="2" |Election

! colspan="2" |By-election

! rowspan="2" |Rank

! rowspan="2" |Notes

Votes

!%

2025 Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election

| 219

| 0.8

| {{steady}} 8th

| bgcolor="lightgrey" |8th out of 10 candidates

= Local elections =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"

! rowspan="2" |Election

! colspan="2" |Local

! rowspan="2" |Seats

! rowspan="2" |Rank

! rowspan="2" |Notes

Votes

!%

2022

|6,857

|0.4

|{{Composition bar|0|1227|{{party color|Scottish Family Party}}|background-color=#DDDDDD}}

|{{steady}} 8th

| bgcolor="lightgrey" |

References