SNP leader John Swinney has accused Reform UK's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord of being 'completely and utterly out of touch' after Offord revealed in a TV election debate that he owns six houses, five cars and six boats. Speaking during the STV debate on Tuesday, Offord said he was not seeking to boast but described his 40-year business career, claiming he had employed hundreds of thousands of people and paid £45 million in tax.
Campaigning in Edinburgh on Wednesday, Swinney said Offord's comments were 'tone deaf' amid the cost-of-living crisis. Swinney, who said he owns one house and one car and no boats, added: 'I thought the setting of an individual's personal wealth, at a time when people are really facing acute hardship … was an example of how completely and utterly out of touch Reform are with the reality of people’s lives.'
The SNP leader outlined his party's proposals to help families, including extending the £2 bus fare cap, introducing a price cap on essential foods, and measures for childcare and first-time buyers. He called for an 'emphatic SNP majority' in next week's Holyrood election to implement these policies.
The Scottish Greens responded by proposing an 'Offord tax' to discourage wealthy individuals from hoarding multiple properties. Co-leader Ross Greer said: 'Reform try to blame immigrants for the housing crisis, but it turns out they’re the ones causing it with their greed.' The tax would increase the Additional Dwelling Supplement for each extra property purchased beyond a second home.
