"I've lost them. I've got a couple of people who have said to me: we just can't support what the party stands for. I feel that that is a sacrifice that I have to make if I believe in the cause of what I'm trying to do."
"I was uncomfortable I was a bit squeamish about that. But I do agree with the sentiment that we've got an issue [and] that immigration is an issue in some of our communities, especially our working class communities."
Malcolm Offord, previously a Conservative peer, defected to Reform UK in December and was appointed the party's Scotland leader by Nigel Farage in January. The defection cost him friendships, with some associates unable to support Reform's platform. Offord acknowledged discomfort with some of Farage's immigration rhetoric but stated his own position on immigration has hardened since joining the party. He recognizes immigration as a significant issue affecting working-class communities. Despite personal costs, Offord remains committed to his new political direction and the cause he believes in.
#political-defection #reform-uk #scottish-politics #immigration-policy #conservative-to-reform-transition
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