Scotland’s leader of Reform UK has admitted he was “uncomfortable” with Nigel Farage’s criticism of immigration in Glasgow – but said his stance has toughened since joining the party.
Malcolm Offord, a former Conservative minister who quit the House of Lords to stand for Holyrood in May, said he has lost friends over his decision to join Mr Farage’s party.
He will lead the party in the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections in May, standing in the Inverclyde constituency.
In December last year, Mr Farage, who leads Reform UK, claimed that nearly one in three pupils in Glasgow speak English as a second language.
He came under fierce criticism for describing it as the “cultural smashing of Glasgow”, with First Minister John Swinney and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar condemning the “racist” remarks.
Lord Offord previously dodged questions on the comments when he was unveiled as a defector from the Tories in December.
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Now, speaking on BBC Scotcast, the leader of Reform in Scotland said: “When I came in [as leader], I remember it was at the moment when Nigel Farage came to Scotland and said Glasgow was being culturally smashed. Remember that? And I was uncomfortable.
I remember I was on Question Time. And a bit squeamish about that. And I was asked directly by Fiona Bruce, ‘Well, you're now Reform, you’ve to own that language. Would you say Glasgow was culturally smashed?’ And I sort of slightly, you know, I was a bit squeamish on it.
"And I said, I maybe wouldn't use that language, but I do agree with the sentiment that we've got an issue, that immigration is an issue in some of our communities, especially our working-class communities.”
Asked by podcast host Martin Geissler whether his immigration stance had “hardened” since becoming leader of the party in Scotland, he replied: “I think, so, yes, let's just say that. I think it has.
“I think going to see local people in their communities where they're talking about things that they feel are not fair. And actually, when you stand in front of people and they tell you that they're lived experience, that does add, I think, to the issue. I see this issue as a system failure.”
Of the 71,957 school-aged children in Glasgow last year, 70% spoke English as a first language, while 29% spoke it as a second language.
Of the 29% who had English as a second language, 19% were competent or fluent and the remaining 81% were either new to English, had early acquisition or developing competence.
Speaking on the BBC podcast, Lord Offord also admitted he had to “sacrifice” friendships in order to lead the party because he “believes in the cause”.
The millionaire businessman defected to Reform in December and in January was appointed as its first Scottish leader.
Polls show the party polling in second or third place in Scotland ahead of the Holyrood election in May.
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Speaking to BBC Scotland’s Scotcast podcast, Lord Offord said his defection came with a personal cost.
Asked if he had lost friends for joining the party, he said: “Yes, I have. Not what I would call my closest friends. I’ve lost situational friends.
“Certainly I’ve lost some friends, clearly, in the Conservative Party who are no longer friends, but that’s because we’re in this business and you have to roll with that.
“Have I lost a close buddy? No.”
He added: “A couple of people have said to me, ‘we just can’t support what the party stands for’, and I’ve said, ‘Well, yes, but you know also what I stand for’, and they made a distinction, ‘yeah, we know you’re different, but now you’ve got that badge we just can’t support that anymore’. So yeah, I’ve had that.”
But he said losing friendships is something he is willing to do as he bids to improve life in Scotland.
“I want Scotland to be successful,” he said. “I want people to have more meaningful lives.
“I want us to have better public services. I want us to have cohesive communities. We don’t have that at the moment.”
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