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It comes after First Minister John Swinney made that very assertion, warning Scots that the two parties may strike a “grubby, backroom deal” to run the Scottish Government if the SNP do not win a majority at the elections in May.
But the Scottish Labour leader – speaking at his party’s Holyrood campaign launch in Glasgow – appeared to rule it out.
Asked by journalists whether he would rule it out even if it meant John Swinney became First Minister again rather than him, Sarwar responded: "Let me make it absolutely, fundamentally clear. No coalition, no deals, no stitch ups."
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He added: “We are not going to touch Reform because they are a distraction in this election campaign not the alternative. The only thing Reform can do is make noise and keep the SNP in power.”
He also took aim at Swinney specifically, pointing out the widely condemned political advert Reform UK released during the Hamilton by-election last year.
The “blatantly racist” Facebook video falsely claimed Scottish Labour leader Sarwar would “prioritise the Pakistani community” and includes selected clips from a speech in which he urged more people from South Asian backgrounds to get involved in politics.
“Questioning my identity, questioning my loyalty to my country, Scotland, Swinney should be frankly ashamed of himself by trying to pretend there's some kind of association between me and Reform,” Sarwar said.
Speaking to party members, Scottish Labour candidates and staffers, Sarwar also repeatedly asserted that the party could spring an upset and win the election – flying in the face of repeated polls.
Scottish Labour have consistently polled way below the SNP in Holyrood polls and more often than not behind Reform UK in third place.
This week, and with little more than a month to go until May 7, a poll of more than 2100 Scots by Lord Ashcroft and published in Holyrood Magazine made for particularly good reading for John Swinney with the SNP predicted to achieve a majority.
On the constituency vote, the SNP polled at a dominant 39%, with Reform UK in second on 14% and Scottish Labour polling in third at 12%, followed by the Scottish Greens on 11%, the Scottish Conservatives on 10% and Lib Dems on 9%.
On the regional list vote, the SNP scored 31%, while the Scottish Greens came second on 17%. Reform UK polled at 15% while Scottish Labour again polled at 12%. The Scottish Tories were on 10% and Scottish Lib Dems on 9%.
According to seat projections using the DevolvedElections calculator, those results would leave the SNP with a majority if repeated on May 7.
The SNP were projected to win 65 seats, with the Scottish Greens in second on 18 – meaning a huge 18-seat pro-independence majority.
Reform UK are on 17 in third place, with Scottish Labour in fourth on 13 – a far cry from an election win which would likely lead to calls for Sarwar to resign as leader.