Nigel Farage has named former Conservative government minister Malcolm Offord as the new leader of Reform UK in Scotland. The appointment marks a significant coup for the party as it prepares for the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections.
From Tory Peer to Reform UK Frontman
Malcolm Offord, Baron Offord of Garvel, defected from the Scottish Conservatives to Reform UK in December 2024. His move was announced by Nigel Farage during a visit to Falkirk, making Offord the party's first parliamentary peer. At the time of his defection, Offord was serving as the Scottish Tory treasurer.
The Greenock-born businessman and politician was made a life peer in 2021 by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He served as a minister, holding roles including Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland and Minister for Exports until the July 2024 general election. Offord had been a substantial donor to the Conservative Party, contributing nearly £150,000.
Ambitions for Holyrood and Beyond
Offord has confirmed he will stand as a candidate in the Scottish Parliament election in May 2026. To campaign, he will resign from the House of Lords, where he has sat since 2021. This will not be his first attempt to enter Holyrood; he stood as a Conservative list candidate for the Lothian region in May 2021, placing fifth and failing to secure a seat.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland in early January 2026, Offord framed the upcoming election as a contest between Reform UK and John Swinney's SNP. When asked if he aspired to become Scotland's First Minister, he replied, "Yes, I mean, you've got to be in it to win it."
A "Brave and Historic" Move for Reform
Nigel Farage welcomed Offord's defection enthusiastically, describing it as "a brave and historic act." Farage stated, "He will take Reform UK Scotland to a new level," expressing his delight at bringing the experienced politician into the fold.
This strategic appointment signals Reform UK's serious intent to challenge the established political order in Scotland, leveraging Offord's ministerial experience, profile, and insider knowledge of the Conservative Party as it gears up for a critical electoral battle.
