Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a scathing attack on Reform UK, labelling Nigel Farage's party a "dictatorship" following a controversial leadership appointment in Scotland.
‘A One-Man Band’: Badenoch’s Stinging Rebuke
The political row erupted after Nigel Farage unveiled former Tory peer Lord Malcolm Offord as Reform’s new Scottish leader during a press conference in Fife. The appointment was made without consulting the party's membership, a move which prompted immediate criticism from the Tory leader.
Speaking to the Scottish Daily Mail during a visit to Edinburgh, Mrs Badenoch did not hold back. "That’s not a political party, it’s a one man band," she stated. "It’s one guy who is running things and telling people what to do. Good luck to all those people who are going there – it’s a dictatorship rather than a democracy."
She contrasted this with her own party's structures, emphasising, "We are a democratic party. I can’t just do whatever I like, we have a constitution, a party board. Yes I’m the leader, I set the direction, I set the policy, but there are checks and balances."
Offord’s Defection and Electoral Prospects Questioned
The newly installed Scottish leader for Reform, Lord Malcolm Offord, defected from the Conservatives just last month. He had served as a junior minister under Mrs Badenoch during her tenure as business secretary.
When asked about his political prowess, Badenoch was dismissive of his grassroots experience. "No, he’s never delivered a leaflet in his life," she remarked, questioning his value as an electoral asset. She did offer a minor professional compliment, adding, "I worked with him, he was a good junior minister, nothing exceptional but very ambitious."
Lord Offord, a millionaire financier, is currently in the process of resigning from the House of Lords following his defection. He has publicly stated his reasons for switching parties, claiming the Conservatives "have no ambition for Scotland" and criticising Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay for a perceived lack of belief in becoming First Minister.
Farage’s Appeal to Holyrood Defectors
The leadership unveiling coincided with a direct appeal from Nigel Farage to potential defectors currently sitting in the Scottish Parliament. He indicated that time is of the essence for those considering a switch.
Farage said would-be defectors have just a "few days" to make contact if they wish to stand for Reform UK in May's Holyrood elections. He explicitly addressed Labour and Conservative MSPs, telling those who "want to do better with us" that they had "better get in touch."
This public call highlights Reform UK's strategy to build its presence in Scotland rapidly, capitalising on dissatisfaction within the established parties ahead of the upcoming devolved elections.
The exchange underscores the deepening tensions between the Conservatives and the insurgent Reform UK, with the battle for Scottish votes and political talent becoming increasingly personal and public.
