Nigel Farage has accused Scottish First Minister John Swinney of being "inciteful" after the SNP renewed its attack against the Reform UK leader.
Farage and Swinney have traded barbs in recent weeks as voters in Hamilton prepare for a crunch by-election.
Reform UK and the SNP believe the contest is a two-way fight, with Labour being reduced to a dismal third place.
However, Swinney's criticisms of Farage stem from Reform's "racist" advert against Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.
Anti-Reform UK protesters gather in Aberdeen
GETTY
Speaking from his press conference in Aberdeen, Farage swatted away the allegations and accepted an invitation to debate both Swinney and Sarwar.
The Reform UK leader said: "The more they insult me, the more I know we must be doing something right. I think they're in a blind state of panic. They're chucking around all sorts of insults.
"I thought the First Minister yesterday was, quite frankly, inciteful. But, for today, I will not return the compliment. We will let the public make their own minds up. I'm not going to get involved in a war of words."
Farage's comments came after a group of anti-Reform protesters gathered in the Granite City ahead of the Clacton MP's landmark statement.
John SwinneyPA
Anti-Reform UK anners were unfurled by around a dozen protesters, including one which stated: “Farage not welcome in Scotland.”
The chants included: “Let in every refugee, throw Farage in the sea” and “Farage Farage we know you, you’re a racist through and through”.
Two police officers arrived at the scene as the chants began but decided not to take any further action.
Farage's visit to Scotland, which will include a stop-off in Hamilton, comes just hours after Swinney last night accused Reform of posing a threat to democracy.
Nigel Farage hit out at John Swinney's 'ridiculous' commentsGB News
The Scottish First Minister said: “Things remain tough for too many families who feel let down by Labour – who have given up in this campaign – and the deeply concerning rise in support for Farage.
“Be in no doubt, Nigel Farage doesn’t care about Scotland. He poses a threat to our values and must be stopped, and only the SNP can do that.
“In this by-election, the SNP is the only party investing in Scotland’s future, delivering for families and confronting Farage. On Thursday, vote SNP to stop Farage.”
In an exclusive interview with GB News, Farage warned his rivals were making "mistakes" by "lashing out" at him.
He told the People's Channel: "They're lashing out at me left, right and centre because they're scared. And they're scared because the Reform vote is on the rise. They're scared because we're prepared to take on the failed consensus."