Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has announced a surprise defection from the Conservatives while speaking in Scotland.
Lord Offord of Garvel became the first member of the House of Lords to join Reform as he announced his departure from the Conservative Party.
The shock announcement was made while Mr Farage was addressing supporters in Falkirk, Scotland.
Malcolm Offord, from Greenock in the County of Renfrewshire, became a life peer in 2021.
He brings extensive political experience to Reform, having served as Minister of State for Scotland between 2021 and 2024.
Lord Offord was also Minister of State for Exports between 2023 and 2024 and was Treasurer of the Scottish Conservatives.
Welcoming the former Tory peer, Mr Farage said: “I am delighted to welcome Malcolm to Reform.
“This is a brave and historic act. He will take Reform UK Scotland to a new level,” he declared amid raucous applause.
Lord Offord of Garvel has defected to Reform
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Lord Offord said: “I am delighted to join Reform UK Scotland. We have an important election coming up in May next year.”
He continued: “Scotland is crying out for a centre-right narrative to make the country prosperous once again.
“Scotland needs Reform and Reform is coming to Scotland,” the peer said to cheers in the room.
Speaking to the room of supporters, Lord Offord announced his plans to stand down from the Lords and campaign as a candidate for Reform in the 2026 Holyrood elections.
The life peer said his ‘first objective is to remove this rotten SNP government after 18 years’
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“From today, for the next five months, day and night, I shall be campaigning with all of you tirelessly for two objectives,” he said.
Issuing a rallying cry to the room, he declared: “The first objective is to remove this rotten SNP government after 18 years.
“The second is to present a positive vision for Scotland inside the UK, to restore Scotland to being a prosperous, proud, healthy and happy country,” Lord Offord said.
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