Malcolm Offord claims he 'instantly regretted' homophobic 'joke' as Reform's only MSP backs him
John Swinney has suggested ‘lots of people would laugh and applaud’ if they heard the offensive comments at a Reform event or conference
Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord has claimed he “instantly regretted” a homophobic “joke” after having “had a bit to drink” after coming under fire for the remarks.
Mr Offord’s only Reform MSP at Holyrood has backed him to continue as leader, despite First Minister John Swinney arguing the incident shows he is “unfit” to lead any party or be elected an MSP.
Mr Swinney suggested that “lots of people would laugh and applaud” if they heard what Mr Offord had said at a Reform event or conference.
Mr Offord has apologised and denied he is homophobic after it emerged he made the “joke” about George Michael while giving a speech in 2018.
The Reform UK leader in Scotland is said to have told it while giving a Burns Night speech at the London Scottish rugby club, where he had been chairman at the time.
It is understood the jest had mocked the Wham singer’s grieving boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz.
Mr Simpson, a list MSP who defected from the Tories, attempted to evade journalists after the last First Minister’s Questions before the election, leaving the chamber early.
“I don’t know what the joke was, I’ve not seen the joke. I don’t want to see it”, Mr Simpson said, as journalists questioned him at Holyrood.
Asked if he was fit to lead the party in Scotland, Mr Simpson said: “He is.”
Mr Offord has admitted he had “had a bit to drink” before delivering the “crude joke about the late George Michael, as I had been connecting his songs to Burns’ works”.
Writing on X, he added: “It was intended to be funny through being edgy and shocking, but I’m no Frankie Boyle or Ricky Gervais.
“Instead of being funny, I made members of the audience uncomfortable and instantly regretted it. I immediately apologised to the club, and made amends by voluntarily donating to the King’s Cross Steelers, the original gay-inclusive rugby union club, to support their travel and participation in the Bingham Cup in Amsterdam.”
Mr Swinney told journalists that “no minister could serve in government if they use language like that”.
“It’s just completely and utterly unacceptable”, he added.
The First Minister said: “We’re at a critical moment. We’re about to start an election campaign and Malcolm Offord has been found out sharing completely and utterly intolerant and unacceptable material with audiences.
“If that’s what he thinks and feels, he’s got no place and no role to perform in Scottish politics. That is completely and utterly unacceptable.
He’s unfit to be leader of any political party. He’s unfit to be a member of the Scottish Parliament with views and attitudes like that.”
Mr Swinney added: “The thing that would worry me, given what I’ve seen of some of the performances around about Reform at events, is that if he was to tell that joke at a Reform conference, I suspect lots of people would laugh and applaud, based on what I saw of the launch last week.
“I think we’ve got to be really careful as a country about where we are heading. Reform has got no part to play in it if they represent views of intolerance, prejudice and hatred of that type.”
Speaking in the chamber at FMQs, Mr Swinney said that the "homophobic alleged joke by Malcolm Offord as the leader of Reform is a warning to this country of what is coming our way.”
He added: “There is no place for homophobia, racism and intolerance. That’s what Reform represents and we have all got to stand up against that bile in our society.”
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