Alex Cole-Hamilton said Reform will ‘shed support’ once their policies come under scrutiny.
The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats said his party was “planting its flag” in Glasgow and intends to get an MSP elected for the city next year.
The party is hosting its annual conference in Glasgow this weekend looking to end 18 years since it had a city MSP elected.
Speaking to the Glasgow Times ahead of the conference, Cole-Hamilton said people now have reasons to vote Lib Dem again.
With much of the discussion centring on Reform taking votes from other parties, he said there was a better offer available.
On the Reform effect, he said: “It’s overstated.”
“Reform has had a surge in support, which is easy when they don’t have any policies to defend.
“Once they have to defend policy, they will start shedding support.
“People who are looking for change don’t have to settle for Nigel Farage’s dark, mean-spirited offer.
“With the LibDems, it is a vote for change with fairness at heart, a more positive bandwagon.”
He said in Glasgow, policies on asylum would have an impact.
Cole-Hamilton, said: “The small boats is an emergency.
“We will recruit 2000 case workers at ports of entry to clear the backlog in six months.”
Part of Glasgow’s housing emergency is due to the high number of people with positive asylum decisions then turning up at the council as homeless.
Cole-Hamilton added: “A crucial part of the plan is that asylum seekers should be allowed to work while claims are processed so they can start paying their own way.
“Lots of them are hungry to work to have money in their pocket and be able to afford to pay for a property or rent a flat.”
The LibDem leading regional candidate for Glasgow is Daniel O’Malle a public affairs officer with the Scottish Refugee Council .
Cole-Hamilton, said: “Daniel O’Malley brings experience on asylum and immigration. He understands the reality of Scotland’s tradition of offering safety to people fleeing persecution.”
The leader said the conference will focus on four themes: “Access to local healthcare, driving down the cost of energy, improving education by recruiting pupil support assistants and getting Scotland moving”.
He said there will be policies on efforts to tackle violence against women and girls and create a better nighttime economy.
The leader said: “This is the best subscribed conference I can remember.
“We are going to take a big leap forward.
“It is a compelling offer of a vision of change.”
The last LibDem MSP was Rober Brown elected in 2007 and it hasn’t had a councillor elected since Margot Clark in Linn in 2012.
Cole Hamilton said: “People haven’t voted for us in Glasgow because they didn’t believe we could win.
“At the last general election, we had the best result in a century. That has given us credibility again.
“We are poised to beat the SNP in many seats and odds on to take Strathkelvin and Bearsden.”
The Lib Dem conference takes place at the Radisson Blu on Saturday October 18.
Cole-Hamilton said: “This is our first conference in Glasgow for a while.
“It is a statement of intent. We expect to return Daniel O’Malley on the list.
“We are planting our flag on the map this shows we are determined to represent Glasgow.”
