Reform UK's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord has apologised after it emerged he told a joke about George Michael during a 2018 Burns Night speech at the London Scottish rugby club, where he was then chairman. The joke reportedly mocked the Wham singer's grieving boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz.
A witness described the joke as "a crude, bad taste and insulting spectacle" and expressed bafflement that anyone would make such remarks in front of 200 people. Lord Offord denied being homophobic, calling the incident "a clumsy mistake" and said he recognised immediately that it was inappropriate.
In a statement, Offord said he had accepted accountability and made amends. “I instantly regretted it and recognised that it was totally inappropriate and took responsibility for what I had said,” he added.
First Minister John Swinney condemned the comments, stating they “have no place in Scottish society” and are “typical of the prejudice spouted by Reform”. Scottish Labour's Paul O'Kane called the party “nasty” and demanded a full public apology or Offord's resignation as Scottish leader.
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Jamie Greene, who is gay, said he had experienced unpleasant commentary from online trolls but not from party leaders. He criticised Reform's “bile” and questioned how much lower the party could sink.
