The newly appointed leader of Reform UK in Scotland, multimillionaire financier Malcolm Offord, has firmly refused to publicly declare his personal wealth, describing the matter as private. Offord was unveiled by party figurehead Nigel Farage at a press conference in Kirkcaldy on Thursday, just ten weeks before crucial Scottish parliament elections.
A Peer Stepping Down to Stand Up
Offord, who was made a Conservative life peer by former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2021, ceremoniously signed a document stating he had "retired" from the House of Lords to stand for the Scottish Parliament in May. Both he and Farage acknowledged that his life peerage cannot be formally rescinded without an act of parliament, a step they do not currently intend to take. Instead, Offord pledged not to attend the Lords or use his title.
The convention for party leaders in Scotland is to publish their tax returns, but Offord pushed back against this when questioned by reporters. "I'm not talking about my net worth," he stated. "That's not of any relevance to anybody. For a start, it's not something you pluck out of the air because your assets are not easily valued."
Wealth and the Cost-of-Living Crisis
Offord's lifestyle includes competitive yachting at Cowes, collecting classic cars, and the recent purchase of a £1.6 million mansion on Loch Lomond's shores without a mortgage. When asked if his considerable wealth might distance him from the financial pressures facing ordinary voters, he called the suggestion "very patronising."
"In terms of who I operate with and mingle with, I mix with a whole range of people across the whole of Scotland, from those in the most disadvantaged backgrounds to the top," Offord argued. "I'll talk on equal terms to all of them." He previously attracted attention for endorsing ideas that the public could be charged for some NHS services.
If elected in May, Offord will face much stricter transparency rules than in the Lords, requiring him to declare properties, shareholdings, and directorships. He dismissed public interest in his fortune, framing himself as "a local guy" who "made a bit of dosh" and now wants to improve how the country is run.
Reform's Scottish Election Ambitions
Nigel Farage announced that Reform UK will field 100 candidates across Scotland's 129 Holyrood constituencies. He expressed confidence that their slate represents "a very, very broad cross-section of working life in Scotland," featuring few professional politicians. Offord echoed this, describing candidates as "real, authentic people" like midwives, teachers, doctors, and a procurator fiscal.
The party's confidence appears bolstered by recent polling. A Survation poll for True North, published on Thursday, suggests Reform is statistically tied with Labour for second place in the constituency vote at 19% and 16% respectively, behind the SNP on 34%. On the regional list vote, both Reform and Labour are tied at 18%.
This data projects the SNP winning 61 seats, short of an overall majority, with Labour and Reform each potentially securing 18 seats. This outcome would make Reform a significant new force in the Scottish political landscape following May's election.
