Tory defector Offord wants to become Reform's Scottish leader
Lord Malcolm Offord, who became the highest-profile defector to Reform north of the Border last month, said he will seek to lead the party in Scotland.
By MICHAEL BLACKLEY SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR
Published: 20:01 GMT, 31 December 2025 | Updated: 20:02 GMT, 31 December 2025
A former Tory minister has confirmed he wants to become Scottish leader of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
Lord Malcolm Offord, who became the highest-profile defector to Reform north of the Border last month, said he will seek to lead the party in Scotland in the run-up to the Holyrood elections in May.
In his first major interview since his defection, he also claimed his new party will remove the SNP from government and is willing to work with any other parties to do so.
Lord Offord also told the Mail that:
- Mr Farage will not be the ‘face of Reform in Scotland’ in the election campaign.
- He accepts that leaving the Tories without speaking directly to UK leader Kemi Badenoch or Scottish leader Russell Findlay was not ideal.
- He supports a review of the Barnett Formula funding deal.
The peer said a Scottish leader will be selected by Reform shortly, and confirmed his intention to stand.
Lord Malcolm Offord with Nigel Farage when the former Tory announced his defection to Reform UK
Lord Offord said he wants to be the Scottish leader of Reform
‘My name will definitely be in the ring, for sure,’ he said.
Speaking at his investment firm Badenoch & Co in Edinburgh, he claimed Reform could even remove John Swinney from power in May.
‘Let’s be clear, the project is to remove the SNP. We need to give Scotland good government for the first time in 25 years,’ he said.
Pressed on whether it was realistic to think Reform could be in government, he said: ‘Yes, absolutely.’
On the prospect of an alliance with other parties to oust the SNP, the peer said: ‘If need be, leave the politics at the door.’
Lord Offord also downplayed the prospect of Mr Farage playing a prominent role in the Scottish campaign, saying: ‘Reform Scotland needs its own voice, its own leader.’
Following claims by Mr Findlay that he wasn’t even personally informed of his decision to quit the party and his role as treasurer, the peer said: ‘It’s not a perfect world. We now live in a world of digital.’
An SNP spokesman said: ‘Lord Offord and his friends in the other Westminster parties are clearly lining up to do deals together.’
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: ‘Reform are not being straight with Scots. A vote for them only helps the SNP remain in power.’