Reform UK's Scottish Leader Condemns 'Fake Outrage' Over Controversial Joke
Malcolm Offord, the leader of Reform UK in Scotland, has launched a strong criticism against what he describes as "fake outrage" in the media regarding a joke he made about the late pop star George Michael. The remark, which Offord himself has acknowledged was "probably homophobic," was delivered at a rugby club dinner back in 2018 but only came to public attention this week.
Details of the Controversial Remark and Its Timing
The joke emerged into the public domain just as campaigning began for the upcoming Scottish Parliament election in May. This timing has led to widespread condemnation from rival political parties, who have seized upon the comments to criticise Offord's judgment. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Breakfast programme, Offord expressed his astonishment at the media reaction, stating that the level of outrage was disproportionate to the incident.
"The fake outrage on this has been quite astonishing in the media," Offord declared during his radio appearance. He went on to reveal that he has received substantial public support following the revelation, with many people telling him, "you told a bad joke and you apologised for it Malcolm, what is the big deal?"
Offord's Defence and Comparisons to Other Scandals
In his defence, Offord pointed to more serious political scandals that have recently dominated headlines in Scotland. He specifically mentioned former SNP council leader Jordan Linden, who was found guilty this week of five sexual assaults against young men, and former Scottish health secretary Michael Matheson, who resigned after a controversy over his iPad expenses.
"You might have thought based on what we have heard in the last week I was guilty of something serious, like for example sexual assaults against five young men, or maybe I had tried to defraud the taxpayer for £11,000 for my iPad bill," Offord argued. He added emphatically, "Can we just get real on this."
Acknowledgment of Error and Apology
When directly questioned about whether his joke was homophobic, Offord conceded that it "probably was." He described it as a mistake and an error of judgment, particularly noting that he made the comment as a private individual before entering politics. "It was a mistake. I don't have any issue with homophobia, I've got a lot of gay friends," he stated, while acknowledging that public figures are held to higher standards.
The former Conservative government minister, who defected to Reform UK last year, emphasised that everyone says things they regret, and what matters most is how they address those mistakes. "We have all said things we regret and the important thing is what you do about it. What I did about it was apologise and make amends," he explained.
Actions Taken to Rectify the Situation
Offord detailed the specific steps he took to address the offence caused by his joke. He made what he described as a "very public apology" to the rugby club where the dinner took place. Additionally, he donated approximately £2,000 to Kings Cross Steelers, which is recognised as the world's first gay-inclusive rugby union club.
"This happened eight years ago, it was not meant to cause any offence but it did cause offence, and I rectified that offence. All the people involved were satisfied with that," Offord concluded, stressing that the incident occurred long before his political career began and that he has taken appropriate corrective action.
