Reform UK's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord has apologised after it emerged he made a joke about George Michael during a Burns Night speech in 2018. The joke reportedly mocked the singer's grieving boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz.
Lord Offord, who was chairman of the London Scottish rugby club at the time, issued a statement describing the joke as 'a clumsy mistake'. He said: 'I instantly regretted it and recognised that it was totally inappropriate and took responsibility for what I had said.' He denied being homophobic.
A member of the audience told the Daily Record the joke was 'a crude, bad taste and insulting spectacle'. First Minister John Swinney condemned the comments, saying they '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 Lord Offord to step down as party leader. Scottish Liberal Democrat Jamie Greene MSP said: 'Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the bile emanating from the mouth of Reform.'
