Lord Malcolm Offord, the Scottish leader of Reform UK, has conceded that his party has experienced significant "bumps in the road" during a tumultuous two-week period. This admission comes as he seeks to refocus the election campaign squarely onto the contentious issue of immigration.
Campaign Turmoil and Candidate Losses
Speaking at an event in Glasgow's East End, Lord Offord acknowledged the difficulties faced since Reform UK launched its manifesto and unveiled its constituency candidates. The party has seen four candidates step down and one suspended, highlighting internal challenges. A former Conservative minister, Lord Offord used the platform to initiate an election advertising campaign, pledging to stop Glasgow from being labelled the UK's illegal migrant capital and warning that "Scotland is at breaking point."
Defending Party Processes Amid Criticism
When questioned about the chaos engulfing Reform UK's campaign in Scotland—which has resulted in the loss of five candidates and internal dissent over amateurism, lack of democracy, and cronyism—Lord Offord defended the party's approach. He emphasised that "this is a new party" and noted that 80 percent of candidates "are not professional politicians."
He elaborated, stating, "It is a rude awakening for everybody and we have had a couple of bumps in the road but fundamentally our processes are very good. We have done strong assessments, objective assessments, and strong vetting processes—probably the strongest we've done." Lord Offord added that the candidates are "real people" with "real jobs" who aim to "make a change," asserting that the party is in "pretty good shape."
Internal Dissent and Resignations
Despite his confidence, internal strife persists. North Ayrshire councillor Todd Ferguson, who joined Reform UK in November, resigned this week, citing concerns over "unprofessional conduct," "amateurism," infighting, and cronyism. Ferguson claimed the party's direction has "deteriorated markedly" under Lord Offord's leadership.
In response, Lord Offord dismissed Ferguson's departure, saying, "He spat the dummy because he didn't get the place he wanted on the list. You can't join Reform five months ago and say you are a committed Reformer and then be upset with where you end up on the list." Additionally, it emerged that the party's Scottish press officer has also quit, further compounding the campaign's difficulties.
Immigration Takes Centre Stage
Lord Offord's strategy pivots heavily on immigration, criticising what he calls the "Holyrood bubble" for ignoring Scots' concerns. He condemned a system that allows people to come to Scotland and "get something for nothing," highlighting figures that show Glasgow City Council provides temporary accommodation for over 9,337 homeless people, with 64 percent having refugee status.
He also pointed out that the cost of hotels and B&Bs in Glasgow reached £55 million last year, equivalent to nearly 15 percent of all council tax revenue. Lord Offord argued that Glasgow is "bursting at the seams" and criticised First Minister John Swinney for downplaying immigration as an issue in the election campaign.
Polling and Political Positioning
Recent polling places Reform UK in second position behind the SNP, with Labour trailing in third. When asked about potential post-election deals, Lord Offord ruled out collaboration with Labour, stating, "We couldn't work with Labour because they don't share our view on economic growth."
He further criticised the media and political establishment, saying, "The media bubble and the political class would have you believe this issue has been whipped up by Reform rhetoric. Bizarrely, they say that Reform has somehow convinced rational, intelligent, well-informed Scots that we have manufactured a non-existent problem out of thin air." Lord Offord accused the "Holyrood bubble" of believing that "a significant chunk of the electorate is too stupid to form opinions of their own."
Broader Criticisms and Future Outlook
The campaign faces broader scepticism, with one recent Reform UK campaigner in Scotland describing the party's operations as "a bunch of jokers" and "a Mickey Mouse operation." Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton added, "Reform's campaign is in disarray. Their key policies fell apart within 24 hours of their manifesto launch and they have failed to oppose independence."
As the election approaches, Reform UK under Lord Offord's leadership continues to navigate internal challenges while aggressively pushing immigration to the forefront of political discourse in Scotland.
