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Lord Malcolm Offord, formerly a Conservative minister, has been appointed as the inaugural Scottish leader of Reform UK. This announcement was made by party head Nigel Farage during an event held in Fife. As the leader, Lord Offord will spearhead Reform UK’s campaign for the upcoming Scottish Parliament election in May, with ambitions to make a significant impact in Scotland’s political landscape.
During the event, Farage revealed that he had engaged in discussions with Robert Jenrick, who was recently dismissed from the Conservative frontbench amid accusations of planning to defect. Lord Offord expressed confidence in Reform UK’s growing momentum, describing the contest as effectively a “two-horse race” against the SNP. He highlighted the party’s strong base in Scotland, citing a membership exceeding 12,000 and a highly capable slate of candidates. Meanwhile, Farage mentioned that close to 100 Scottish candidates had undergone thorough vetting and training in London.
Speaking to the media, Lord Offord stated: “I think we can surprise ourselves with just how many votes we manage to garner in these elections.” He emphasized voter dissatisfaction with the SNP’s governance, remarking that a large portion of the Scottish electorate desires change. The Reform UK leader also addressed the fallout within the Conservative Party, acknowledging conversations with Jenrick and several senior Tories. Farage suggested that despite talk of a so-called “Kemi bounce” under Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, many senior Conservative figures anticipate substantial losses for the party in Scotland, Wales, and England this May. Although he denied any formal agreement with Jenrick, Farage admitted that joining Reform UK had likely been on the Conservative frontbencher’s mind.
Lord Offord’s move to lead Reform UK in Scotland followed his defection from the Conservatives in December. Polling data indicates that Reform UK is positioning itself to challenge Labour for second place behind the SNP in the upcoming elections. The party currently has one MSP, Graham Simpson, who defected from the Conservatives in August. Reform UK also marked a recent electoral success by winning a council by-election in West Lothian. Having served as the Tory energy spokesman in the House of Lords until December, Lord Offord intends to resign from the Lords and run as a Reform candidate for Holyrood. Though life peerages cannot be renounced, he has formally applied to retire as a member of the House of Lords, signing his resignation at a press conference alongside Farage. Separately, the Scottish Parliament is considering legislation proposed by Reform MSP Simpson that would prevent MSPs from simultaneously holding seats as MPs or members of the House of Lords.
Before entering politics, Lord Offord founded the investment firm Badenoch and Co and was actively involved in the 2014 independence referendum as director of the Vote No Borders campaign. He was appointed a life peer by Boris Johnson in 2021, having previously donated nearly £150,000 to the Conservative Party. His political roles have included serving as Baron Offord of Garvel, a junior minister in the Scotland Office, and as a minister of exports from 2023 until the 2024 general election
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