Reform's new leader named in Scotland as Robert Jenrick sacked for 'plotting to defect'

The new leader of Reform UK in Scotland has taken aim at ‘mid-table mediocrity’ at Holyrood and revealed it would field candidates in all 73 consituencies this May.

Lord Malcolm Offord was announced as the new Scottish leader of Reform UK at an event at a hotel in Kirkcaldy this morning.

Nigel Farage, the party’s leader, made the announcement at the high-security gathering of party members and journalists as it emerged that Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has sacked shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick for plotting to defect to another party.

READ MORE: How Reform’s 12,000 Scottish members are being snubbed by Nigel Farage

It came as a new Scotland-wide poll of voting intentions ahead of May’s Holyrood election put Reform UK neck-and-neck with Scottish Labour for second place, with SNP to win but with no all over majority.

Lord Offord, who stood down from the Conservatives last year, said: “It’s a great honour to be named today as the new leader of Reform UK Scotland.

“ I shall be campaigning hard between now and May, 7, to communicate a positive vision of how we can all work together to make Scotland the most successful part of the UK in the next 10 years.

“We represent ordinary, decent, hardworking Scots who are fed up with mid-table mediocrity in Holyrood. Which is why we will be fielding Reform candidates in all 73 constituencies with one sole objective: to get Scotland back to the top of the table.”

READ MORE: All the Westminster politicians visiting Scotland today

“Make no mistake, this is now a two-horse race between Reform and the SNP.

“This is an exciting time for Scotland. The election in May allows Scots to finally get rid of this rotten SNP government who have had plenty of time to deliver prosperity for Scotland and have failed.“

“Scotland needs Reform and Reform has arrived in Scotland.”Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage MP said:"I have every confidence in the appointment of Malcolm, he has already shown his country that he is devoted to it. Now, he will lead it to a greater future."

Asked on the sacking of Robert Jenrick, Mr Farage said: Reacting to Kemi Badenoch’s announcement she has sacked Robert Jenrick from her front bench, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “I’m very surprised that this news is broken.”

Asked if he had been speaking to Mr Jenrick, the Reform leader said: “I never reveal private conversations of anybody, which is why when people like Malcolm Offord came to me to talk, and he was a frontbencher, nothing ever leaked.

“I’m going to say that I’ve had conversations with a number of very senior Conservatives over the course of the last week, over the course of the last month.”

Pressed again about whether he had spoken to the now ex-shadow justice secretary, Mr Farage said: “Of course I’ve talked to Robert Jenrick. Was I on the verge of signing a document with him? No. But have we had conversations? Yes.”

Mr Farage was asked again if Mr Jenrick had been considering leaving the Tories for Reform, and said: “I think virtually every Conservative is considering leaving the Conservatives, yes.”

Asked if this included Mr Jenrick, he replied: “I think that’s been in his mind, yes. I’ve little doubt it’s been in his mind.”