Reform UK’s Scottish leader has expressed deep embarrassment after being caught driving an untaxed vehicle during the election campaign. Lord Malcolm Offord drove a Range Rover to last week’s televised leaders’ debates, but official records show the vehicle should have been taxed on April 1.
Administrative Oversight
Reform UK attributed the failure to pay the £200 vehicle tax on time to an ‘administrative oversight’. Lord Offord later took to social media to apologise, writing on X: ‘It's mortifying. I've been constantly on the move for the campaign, and missed the letter that I owed £200 of road tax on one of my cars on April 1st.’
Potential Penalties
Drivers caught operating an untaxed vehicle face an £80 fine, and non-payment can lead to a penalty of up to £1,000. The incident has drawn attention given Lord Offord’s political background.
Political Background
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed Lord Offord to the House of Lords after he made a substantial donation to the Conservative Party in 2021 and stood as a candidate. He served as a Conservative minister before defecting to Reform UK in December, becoming the party’s leader in Scotland a month later.
Issue Resolved
A Reform UK spokesman stated: ‘As soon as he became aware of the matter, he took immediate steps to rectify it. This was an honest administrative mistake and the issue has now been resolved.’ The party maintains that the oversight has been corrected and the matter is closed.
