Former Conservative peer Malcolm Offord has led Reform UK to joint second place in the Scottish Parliament, a remarkable resurgence for Nigel Farage's party. Just five years ago, Offord failed to win a seat as a Scottish Conservative candidate. Now, as Scottish leader of Reform UK, he not only holds an MSP position but his party shares second place in Holyrood.
From Tory to Reform
Lord Offord defected from the Conservatives in December 2025, joining Reform UK. At the time, Farage declared that the former Tory minister would take the party in Scotland to a new level. A month later, Offord was confirmed as Scottish leader, though Farage stressed he remained the ultimate leader. Offord resigned his membership in the House of Lords upon his appointment.
Offord criticized his former party, stating that Farage had honestly described what really happens in both Labour and Conservative parties. He added, Honesty is always the best approach. That honesty extended to a TV election debate, where he told voters he had six houses, five cars, and six boats.
Business Success and Political Career
Offord recalled being £2,000 in debt when he moved to London 40 years ago but said he was full of ambition and successful. In a 40-year business career, I have employed hundreds of thousands of people and paid £45 million in tax, the Greenock-born politician said. He became a Conservative donor while in finance and was made a life peer by Boris Johnson in 2021. He served as a minister in the Scotland Office and as a business minister under Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.
Offord denounced his former party as lacking policies and ideas, saying he joined Reform to remove the rotten SNP Government and restore Scotland to being a prosperous, proud, healthy, and happy country. He apologized after a joke about George Michael at a rugby club dinner in 2018 emerged, calling it a clumsy mistake.
Campaign and Controversy
During the campaign, Offord spoke of his love for the Deacon Blue song Dignity, citing its message of working hard and saving up to make dreams come true. However, Deacon Blue expressed being appalled that Offord quoted their hit.
Reform UK now holds joint second place in the Scottish Parliament, a dramatic rise from having only one MSP in the previous session after the defection of former Scottish Tory Graham Simpson.
