Reform's Offord backed by MSP as Swinney condemns crude joke

1 hour ago 1

Angus CochraneSenior political journalist, BBC Scotland

Getty Images Malcolm Offord, who has grey hair brushed back, in a close-up shot in front of a pale blue background.

Reform UK's sole MSP has said Malcolm Offord is fit to lead the party after he was accused of making a homophobic joke at a Burns Night dinner.

Offord apologised for the "crude" remark - made at a rugby club dinner in 2018 - but denied he was homophobic after it was reported this week by the Daily Record.

First Minister John Swinney, meanwhile, said Offord was "unfit" to be involved in Scottish politics.

'He's unfit to be leader of any political party'

In a social media post on Wednesday, Offord said he had made the "crude joke" after having had "a bit to drink" at the London Scottish rugby club while he was serving as chairman.

He said the remarks were about the late singer George Michael, who died on Christmas Day in 2016, "as I had been connecting his songs to Burns's works".

Reform MSP challenged on leader's inappropriate joke

The Reform chief insisted the joke was intended to be "funny through being edgy and shocking", but said he had made attendees uncomfortable and had "instantly regretted it".

Offord added that he apologised at the time and made a donation to an LGBT rugby club.

Asked about Offord in the Scottish Parliament, Swinney told journalists: "He's unfit to be leader of any political party, unfit to be a member of the Scottish Parliament with views and attitudes like that."

He said that if the Reform leader said the same remark at a Reform UK event he suspected "lots of people would laugh and applaud, based on what I saw of the launch last week".

The first minister added: "So I think we've got to be really careful as a country about where we are heading, and Reform have got no part to play in it if they represent views of intolerance, prejudice and hatred of that type."