Reform UK's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord has apologised and denied being homophobic after a joke he made about George Michael in 2018 came to light. The joke was reportedly told during a Burns Night speech at the London Scottish rugby club, where Offord was chairman at the time.
The joke is said to have mocked the Wham singer's grieving boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz. A member of the audience described it as “a crude, bad taste and insulting spectacle”. Lord Offord issued a statement calling it “a clumsy mistake” and said he “instantly regretted it”.
First Minister John Swinney said the comments “have no place in Scottish society” and are “typical of the prejudice spouted by Reform”. Scottish Labour's Paul O'Kane called for a full public apology or for Offord to stand down as party leader in Scotland, adding that Reform is “the nasty party”.
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Jamie Greene, who is gay, said he has faced unpleasant commentary but not from political party leaders, and expressed dismay at the “bile emanating from the mouth of Reform”.
