Lord Malcolm Offord, a former Conservative minister, has publicly declared his ambition to become the Scottish leader of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. This move comes ahead of the crucial Scottish Parliament elections scheduled for May.
Defector Sets Sights on Holyrood
In his first major interview since defecting from the Conservatives last month, Lord Offord confirmed he will seek the leadership of Reform's Scottish branch. The peer stated that a Scottish leader will be selected by the party shortly, and he intends to put his name forward. "My name will definitely be in the ring, for sure," he told the Mail.
Speaking from his investment firm, Badenoch & Co in Edinburgh, Lord Offord laid out a bold vision. He claimed that Reform UK has the potential to remove the SNP from government after nearly two decades in power. "Let's be clear, the project is to remove the SNP. We need to give Scotland good government for the first time in 25 years," he asserted. When questioned on the realism of this goal, he responded, "Yes, absolutely."
Building Alliances and Defining Roles
The former Tory minister expressed a willingness to collaborate with other political forces to achieve the primary objective of defeating the SNP. "If need be, leave the politics at the door," he said, indicating a focus on pragmatic alliances. However, he downplayed the role of Reform's UK figurehead, Nigel Farage, in the Scottish campaign. "Reform Scotland needs its own voice, its own leader," Lord Offord emphasised, confirming that Mr Farage will not be the 'face of Reform in Scotland' during the election.
Lord Offord also addressed criticism of his departure from the Conservative Party. Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay had claimed he was not personally informed of the defection or of Lord Offord stepping down as party treasurer. In response, the peer said, "It's not a perfect world. We now live in a world of digital," while conceding that not speaking directly to UK leader Kemi Badenoch or Mr Findlay was "not ideal".
Policy Stance and Political Reactions
On policy, Lord Offord signalled support for a review of the Barnett Formula, the funding mechanism that determines public spending allocations for Scotland. This aligns with long-standing debates over fiscal fairness within the UK.
The political reaction was swift. An SNP spokesman accused rival parties of preparing to make deals, stating, "Lord Offord and his friends in the other Westminster parties are clearly lining up to do deals together." Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton issued a stark warning to voters: "Reform are not being straight with Scots. A vote for them only helps the SNP remain in power."
As the campaign for the Holyrood elections intensifies, Lord Offord's defection and leadership bid mark a significant shift in the Scottish political landscape, positioning Reform UK as a potential disruptor in the battle to unseat the incumbent SNP government.
