Nigel Farage has revealed his latest recruit in a huge boost to Reform UK’s hopes of delivering a massive blow to other parties in 2026 elections. Speaking to supporters at a rally Scotland, he welcomed on to the stage Malcolm Offord, who until today was a Conservative Shadow Energy Minister and Treasurer of the Scottish Conservative Party.

Mr Farage’s visit provoked a strong response from SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who claimed the Reform UK leader was trying to “whip up hate”. But Mr Farage was unrepentant, telling his audience that there had been three serious sexual assaults in the space of the past week, and the public was being put at risk because of the decision to provide housing for asylum seekers from countries where “their attitude toward women is completely different to ours”.

Lord Offord announced he was quitting the Tories to join Reform. The historic moment means that Reform UK now has its first ever member of the House of Lords, marking a significant milestone for the party.

He said: “I am delighted to join Reform UK Scotland. We have an important election coming up in May next year.

“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”.

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.”

Lord Offord has extensive experience in government having served as Minister of State for Scotland between 2021 – 2024 and Minister of State for Exports between 2023 – 2024. Reform UK has faced criticism for accepting so many Tory defectors into its ranks, but Mr Farage has conceded that one of his party’s weaknesses is a lack of experience in government, and said it is important to bring in people who can help his party prepare for power.

Reform could potentially become the largest party in Wales in next year’s elections for the Welsh Parliament. It is thought unlikely that the party will achieve the same feat in elections for the Scottish Parliament, but Reform hopes to demonstrate that it is a national party with support across the UK, while Mr Farage has predicted that Conservatives could face near wipe-out in parts of the country.

Mr Farage was in Falkirk, which has been the site of regular anti-immigration protests outside the Cladhan Hotel, which is being used to house asylum seekers.

These have often been organised by a group called Save Our Future and Our Kids Futures, which says locals want action following alleged crimes by those housed at the Cladhan Hotel.

A group called Falkirk for All, which has staged opposing counter-demonstrations outside the Cladhan, will hold a “unity march” through the town on Saturday.

Ahead of the rally, Mr Farage claimed “uncontrolled migration” was changing Scottish cities “almost beyond recognition”.

Writing in the Daily Mail, the Reform leader criticised what he characterised as the “open door policies” of the SNP and Labour.

“Today, I will be in Scotland at a sold-out Reform UK rally in Falkirk, speaking to Scottish people who have had enough of all this,” he wrote.

“Falkirk has become a symbol of Scotland’s anger over the asylum crisis.”

He added: “The immigration crisis is one reason why Reform UK is on the march in Scotland.

“We have come from nowhere to beat the fading Labour Party in local by-elections from Clydebank to Fife and, nationally, we’ve surged to second for the first time.

“Scottish politics is now a straight fight between the SNP, the party of the old establishment, and Reform – the party of radical change. The old system is broken.

“The public know it, and they have had enough. Those in the Scottish Parliament who express astonishment at the rise of Reform should try to answer this question: after 26 years of SNP and Labour rule in Scotland, how has life in this proud nation changed for the better?”

Among a series of policy pledges for Scotland, Mr Farage said Reform would axe net zero targets and prioritise the North Sea oil and gas industries.

“We cannot allow the same parties that broke Scotland to pretend that they are now the solution,” he wrote.

“But there is another way. Reform UK believes in the potential of Scotland to rise again.”

SNP leader and Scotland’s First Minister Mr Swinney had earlier described comments from Mr Farage about Glasgow schoolchildren as “simply racist”.

Ahead of the rally on Saturday, Mr Swinney said: “Nigel Farage has no interest in people in Falkirk or anywhere else in Scotland.

“Farage needs to understand that communities in Scotland are not props to be used in his political games.”