Reform’s deputy chief in Scotland says his boss will not be ‘most charismatic’ chief
Throwing shade at his own leader, Thomas Kerr appeared to criticise Malcolm Offord’s performance at First Minister’s Questions (FMQs), Holyrood’s version of Prime Minister’s Questions
Nigel Farage with Reform’s Scotland leader Malcolm Offord (L)(Image: PA)
Reform UK’s deputy chief in Scotland has said his boss is not the “most charismatic” leader in Holyrood.
Throwing shade at his own leader, Thomas Kerr appeared to criticise Malcolm Offord’s performance at First Minister’s Questions (FMQs), the Scottish Parliament’s version of Prime Minister’s Questions.
Mr Kerr insisted he does not want his boss’s job, batting away claims from SNP leader John Swinney that he has leadership ambitions. He said the party had “100%” confidence in Lord Offord and that he was doing a “fantastic job”.
Mr Kerr, who was first elected to Glasgow City Council at the age of 20, has been under fire in recent days after saying Muslim women should not be allowed to wear niqabs and burkas publicly in a “Christian nation”. He said he finds the burka “extremely intimidating”. Reform has brought two debates to Holyrood in recent weeks calling for all face-coverings to be banned.
Mariam Ahmed, chief executive of Amina, the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre, said Mr Kerr’s views on the burka are misogynistic and racist.
Reform UK Scotland surged from one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) to 17 at the Holyrood election in May, placing joint second with Labour. The party was relegated to third-largest party last month after Amanda Bland quit as an MSP, accusing Lord Offord and chief of staff Martyn Greene of misogynistic abuse.
Speaking at a pub in the east end of Glasgow, Mr Kerr insisted Mr Farage is happy with Lord Offord’s leadership of Reform in Scotland.
He said: “Nigel Farage was up a couple of weeks ago, and Nigel made it very clear that we are all very happy at what Malcolm is doing. Look, the point of Reform is that we are not polished politicians, right? Sometimes I will say something that gets me into trouble, and you guys will trace me down the garden lobby, right?
“Malcolm might not be the most charismatic person at FMQs, because he’s still learning on the job. I’m still learning how to do stuff in the chamber as well.”
During FMQs last week, First Minister Mr Swinney told Lord Offord he would have to “think about somewhere else to go shortly, once the man to his right takes over from him very, very soon”.
Asked if he wanted Lord Offord’s job, Mr Kerr said: “No, and I think the First Minister should spend more time looking at the man that’s to his right, which is Stephen Flynn. I think if I was John Swinney, I’d be more focused on the knives that’s coming in his back than Malcolm Offord’s.”
After landmark results in May’s local elections, Reform’s popularity has progressively dwindled, with some polls now putting the party behind both Labour and the Tories after a period at the top. Pressure over Mr Farage’s finances, as well as a dodgy donations scandal, are among the party’s troubles.
