Malcolm Offord, the leader of Reform UK in Scotland, has been labelled as 'tone deaf' and 'entitled' after he boasted about his extensive property and vehicle collection during a televised election debate. Offord, a multimillionaire financier and former Conservative life peer who defected to Reform in January, made the remarks on STV's Tuesday evening debate, prompting widespread criticism from political opponents and housing campaigners.
Offord's Controversial Remarks
During a segment where party leaders questioned each other, Offord stated: 'I went to London 40 years ago with £2,000 of debt. Full of ambition, I worked hard and I was successful. Today, I own six houses, five cars and six boats. In a 40-year business career I've employed hundreds of thousands of people and paid £45m in tax.' He then asked Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer: 'In your Scotland, do you want more people like me, or fewer people like me?' Greer retorted: 'Fewer people like you,' and added: 'I'm glad you've finally admitted how many homes you have, Lord Offord.'
Reaction from Political Leaders
Responding to the row on Wednesday, SNP leader John Swinney proposed that all party leaders should publish their tax returns before the 7 May election. Speaking at a campaign event in Edinburgh, Swinney said: 'I thought it was a revelation that was tone deaf. Lord Offord was essentially bragging about his wealth and I don't think that is the way to engage with voters.' He indicated he would be 'very happy' to publish his own tax return and see others do the same. Labour leader Anas Sarwar also criticised Offord, calling him 'entitled' and stating: 'The idea that he will stand up for working people is for the birds.'
Housing Crisis Context
Ross Greer highlighted the housing emergency, noting: 'There are three times as many holiday homes and empty properties in this country as there are homeless children.' He told Offord: 'You don't need six homes, you don't even need two homes, everyone just needs a home to live in. Surely if we're to tackle the housing emergency, the super-super-rich elite individuals like you should be giving up some of those homes.' Offord, a yachting enthusiast who also collects classic cars and recently bought a £1.6m mansion on Loch Lomond without a mortgage, has previously refused to disclose his wealth, calling it a private matter. If elected to Holyrood, he will be required to list his shareholdings and properties in a register of interests. Property records indicate he owns a flat in north Edinburgh, one in Greenock, and a flat in Knightsbridge, London.
Campaign Controversies
Offord has faced criticism earlier in the campaign for missing a weekend of campaigning to sail his yacht Braveheart in a regatta. He laughed off the criticism, saying: 'I'm trying to take this seriously, I mean heaven forbid a man has a hobby, right?' Stella Rooney, a spokesperson for the tenants' union Living Rent, said: 'When the majority of people are struggling to afford rent or mortgage costs or are stuck in temporary accommodation, it is hard to believe that anyone owning multiple homes would understand anything about the housing crisis, let alone have any sort of plan to fix it.' Anti-poverty and housing campaigners in Scotland privately expressed frustration that strict pre-election rules prevented them from directly responding to Offord's remarks. On a recent BBC Scotcast podcast, Chris Birt, Scotland director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, emphasised the importance of sharing wealth, stating: 'It's not a sustainable position where people can have multiple homes where there are people in our country who have none.'
Call for Transparency
Reform UK has been asked whether Offord will publish his tax returns and confirm the locations of his homes, but the party has not yet responded. Other Scottish party leaders have released their tax records during previous campaigns, though it is not a regular practice. In January, Offord refused to release his returns, saying: 'I want to think about that.'
