Scottish Family Party

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.

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}}

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."

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}}

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}}

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}}

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}}

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}}

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}}

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.

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