Offord Denies Homophobia Following Apology for 2018 Joke
Malcolm Offord, leader of Reform UK in Scotland, has denied accusations of homophobia after apologising for a joke he made about George Michael during a Burn's Night speech in 2018.
The comment was made at the London Scottish rugby club while Offord was serving as chairman. A witness to the speech described the joke as "crude, bad taste and insulting" to the Daily Record.
Offord expressed immediate regret over the remarks and subsequently made a donation to an LGBT organisation. In a statement, he acknowledged making an "inappropriate joke".
"I instantly regretted it and recognised that it was totally inappropriate and took responsibility for what I had said," the Reform leader said.
"This was a clumsy mistake that I immediately acknowledged and acted upon. I am not homophobic.
"I am someone who accepts accountability, owns my actions, and makes amends where needed. That is who I am."
The joke reportedly involved an extended reference to Fadi Fawaz, George Michael's partner at the time of the singer's death in 2016.
Ian Lewer, who attended the speech with his wife, told the Record:
"At the time I thought it pretty awful and indeed that was the feeling in the room."
"I don't know who in their right mind would say something like that.
"It is utterly bizarre that anyone would get up and make a speech in a room with 200 people and say something like that.
"It was so shocking I've not forgotten it."
Despite the controversy, Offord was inducted into the London Scottish rugby club's hall of fame in May 2023.
Political Reactions to Offord's Remarks
Scottish Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson criticised Offord on social media, stating he was "not fit for public office".
Scottish Labour's Paul O'Kane described the incident as exposing Reform UK as the "nasty party that they are." He urged Offord to "make a full, public apology" or resign as Reform's leader in Scotland.
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Jamie Greene, who is openly gay, commented on the situation:
"As a gay politician, I've been on the receiving end of some fairly unpleasant commentary over the years.
"You almost come to expect it from anonymous trolls on social media. You don't, however, hear it from the mouths of political party leaders."
"Sadly, nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the bile emanating from the mouth of Reform; one wonders how much lower they might sink."
Context of Controversial Comments Within Reform UK
The controversy surrounding Offord follows his defence of contentious remarks made by several Reform UK candidates ahead of May's Holyrood election.
Among these candidates, one expressed support for far-right activist and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, another circulated rumours about asylum seekers, and a third referred to former First Minister Humza Yousaf as a "grandstanding Islamist moron."
Offord commented on these incidents:
"We have all made comments in the past but the problem with this modern world is everything is written down and remembered.
"We need to be more realistic about the fact real people say real things."
