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Malcolm Offord, leader of Reform UK in Scotland, has denied accusations of homophobia following criticism over a joke he made about George Michael during a Burns Night event in 2018. At the time, Offord was serving as chairman of the London Scottish rugby club where the remarks were made. He has since expressed regret over the incident, describing the joke as “inappropriate” and acknowledging his mistake. To show his remorse, he also made a donation to an LGBT organization.
In a formal statement, Offord took full responsibility for the comments, saying, “I instantly regretted it and recognised that it was totally inappropriate and took responsibility for what I had said.” He emphasized that he is not homophobic, adding, “I am someone who accepts accountability, owns my actions, and makes amends where needed. That is who I am.” Reports state that the joke involved an extended reference to Fadi Fawaz, the partner of George Michael, who passed away in 2016.
Ian Lewer, who was present at the speech, described the joke as shocking and inappropriate. Speaking to the Record, Lewer noted, “At the time I thought it pretty awful and indeed that was the feeling in the room.” He further expressed disbelief that such comments could be made in front of an audience of 200 people, saying, “It was so shocking I’ve not forgotten it.” Despite this, Offord was later inducted into the London Scottish rugby club’s hall of fame in May 2023.
The controversy has drawn strong responses from political figures. Scottish Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson declared on social media that Offord was “not fit for public office.” Similarly, Scottish Labour’s Paul O’Kane branded Reform UK as a “nasty party” and urged Offord either to make a full public apology or step down as the party’s Scottish leader. Jamie Greene, a Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP and a gay politician himself, criticized the remarks and the party, stating, “Sadly, nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the bile emanating from the mouth of Reform; one wonders how much lower they might sink.”
Offord’s leadership has been further scrutinized after he defended several controversial statements made by Reform UK candidates ahead of the upcoming Holyrood election. These comments included support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson, spreading unfounded claims about asylum seekers, and derogatory remarks targeting former First Minister Humza Yousaf. Regarding these controversies, Offord said, “We have all made comments in the past but the problem with this modern world is everything is written down and remembered,” adding, “We need to be more realistic about the fact real people say real things.
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