Reform UK's Scottish Leader Condemns 'Fake Outrage' Over Homophobic Joke
Reform UK's leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord, has launched a fierce attack on what he describes as "fake outrage" in the media over a joke he made about the late pop star George Michael in 2018, which he has acknowledged was "probably homophobic". The controversial remarks, delivered at a rugby club dinner eight years ago, have only become public knowledge this week, coinciding with the start of campaigning for May's Scottish Parliament election.
Offord Defends Apology Amid Political Criticism
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Breakfast programme on Friday, Lord Offord expressed astonishment at the media reaction, stating: "The fake outrage on this has been quite astonishing in the media." He revealed receiving a "huge amount" of public support, with many people telling him: "You told a bad joke and you apologised for it Malcolm, what is the big deal?"
The former Conservative government minister, who defected to Reform UK last year, emphasised that the joke was made when he was a private individual, not a politician, and stressed the importance of learning from mistakes. "It was an error of judgment, sometimes one does that, particularly when you are a private individual," he explained. "Obviously when you are in public office it is a higher standard and we are all learning on the way."
Contrasting His Actions with Other Scandals
In his defence, Lord Offord contrasted his situation with more serious political scandals, specifically mentioning 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," he remarked, adding: "Can we just get real on this."
Admission and Amends
When directly questioned about whether his joke was homophobic, Lord Offord conceded: "It probably was. It was a mistake. I don't have any issue with homophobia, I've got a lot of gay friends." He detailed the steps he took to make amends, including issuing a "very public apology" to the rugby club and donating approximately £2,000 to Kings Cross Steelers, 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," he asserted.
Political Reactions and Implications
The revelation has sparked significant political debate. First Minister John Swinney has declared that Lord Offord is not fit to serve as an MSP. However, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay offered a more nuanced perspective, telling the Press Association that while the joke was "ill-advised", it should not necessarily bar someone from office. "I think it was an ill-advised joke, it was a number of years ago, I don't think it should prohibit him," Mr Findlay stated, though he added that if one of his own candidates made a similar joke, he would "probably" sack them, depending on the context.
Lord Offord concluded by reflecting on the broader lesson: "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." The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Scottish politics as election campaigning intensifies, raising questions about accountability, forgiveness, and the standards expected of public figures.
