Homophobic joke from Reform Scotland leader ‘warning of what’s coming’ – Swinney

A homophobic joke made by the leader of Reform Scotland is a “warning to this country of what is coming”, the First Minister has said.

Malcolm Offord has apologised and denied he is homophobic after it emerged he made a joke about the late George Michael while giving a speech in 2018.

Speaking at the Scottish Parliament, Liberal Democrat MSP Jamie Greene shared concerns that there are people who “aspire to become MSPs” that are “cracking jokes at the expense of gay people”.

He said: “The reality is we have seen in recent times a rise in antisemitic abuse and far-right protests, and there are people who aspire to become MSPs in this place who are spouting Islamophobic bile on social media and cracking jokes at the expense of gay people.

He continued: “So, can I pose a challenge not just to the First Minister, but to the leader of all political parties who hope to return members to this place, that they will commit their parties in the next parliamentary term to use their privilege of platform wisely, to debate with decency and remember that the language used in here affects people out there.”

Mr Swinney responded that the joke from Lord Offord is a “warning to this country of what is coming”.

He said: “I am horrified by some of the behaviour that is now expressed publicly in our society of racial intolerance, of hatred towards other people, there are people that stand with banners in my constituency outside a hotel accommodating asylum seekers with language which is hate-filled, and it is appalling.

“But the point that Mr Greene raises today about the aspirations of politicians to come in here and let me just speak it out loud, because I know everyone is talking about it today, the homophobic joke, alleged joke, by Malcolm Offord as the leader of Reform in Scotland, is a warning to this country of what is coming our way.

“Because there is no place for homophobia, racism and intolerance. That is what Reform represents and we have all got to stand up against that bile in our society.”

In a social media post addressing his comments, Lord Offord said he “had a bit to drink” and the joke was intended to be funny “through being edgy and shocking”.

He said: “The media have been having another pop at me, so here are the full facts for the public to judge for themselves: Eight years ago, in 2018, long before I was appointed a government minister in the Lords, I gave the Burns Night after-dinner speech at a rugby club before a large crowd of members and their friends, wives, husbands, and partners.

“I must admit, I’d had a bit to drink by then, and finished with a crude joke about the late George Michael, as I had been connecting his songs to Burns’s works. 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.

“I then also arranged a fixture between my club and theirs. So that’s the whole story of what happened eight years ago. Most of the media won’t publish the joke, but I see that the general gist has now been reported, and I don’t want to sully your screens with something so crude.”

Lord Offord is said to have told the joke 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.

A man who had been in the audience told the Daily Record newspaper it had been “a crude, bad taste and insulting spectacle”.

“It is utterly bizarre that anyone would get up and make a speech in a room with 200 people, and say something like that,” he said.

“It was so shocking I’ve not forgotten it.”

Graham Simpson, Reform UK MSP for Central Scotland, told media at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday: “I don’t know what the joke was, I’ve not seen it. I don’t want to see it. ”

When asked if he thinks Lord Offord is still fit to lead the party, Mr Simpson said: “He is.”