The Reform UK Scotland leadership is likely to be a coronation rather than a contest
There is more than one name in the running - but likely only one name on Nigel Farage’s mind
After going years trying to avoid Scotland at all costs, the allure of the upcoming Holyrood election means even Nigel Farage cannot keep away.
Just over a month since his last visit, the Reform UK leader is due back up in Scotland next week to announce who the new leader north of the Border will be.
Despite the party in previous years saying Mr Farage himself would remain the figurehead in Scotland, most of the speculation is that Malcolm Offord will be given the coveted position - he has not given up his peerage and a seat in the House of Lords for nothing.
As of yet we do not know what seat Mr Offord will stand in, but presumably Reform UK will be positioning him so he is a shoo-in to win. The party were delighted when he defected from the Conservatives last month and will not want to waste it.
However the former lord insists the leadership contest is a genuine competition and not a coronation.
When asked about this by BBC Radio Scotland, he said: “My name is in the hat, but it is not the only name in the hat.”
He went on to say there are “a number of talented people in the ring” and hinted that others vying for the top job include Graham Simpson MSP and Councillor Thomas Kerr, as well as other names the public are not so familiar with.
Both Mr Simpson and Councillor Kerr would have been hopeful before Mr Offord announced his defection in December to great fanfare - Mr Simpson is the party’s only MSP in the Scottish Parliament and Councillor Kerr has regularly been put forward by the party for television and radio interviews over the last year.
But given how little detail we know about the leadership contest, let alone exactly what names beyond Mr Offord are in the running, it is difficult to see how this will be anything other than a coronation.
Mr Offord has refused to comment on the selection process, saying it is an internal party process.
Mr Farage clearly likes Mr Offord. He is well-known within Scottish political circles, centre-right and has a successful track-record as a business man.
His experience in both business and government puts him in a good position here, and the party machine will be well aware of how good both of these things will look to their potential voters.
Less than a year ago Mr Farage gave up ownership of Reform UK, saying party members should have more control.
Reform UK was founded in 2018 as a private limited company, with Mr Farage holding the majority of shares, something that is unusual for UK political parties.
But last year it was taken over by a newly-registered business called Reform 2025 Ltd and Mr Farage and his deputy Richard Tice MP are no longer shareholders.
But be in no doubt that Reform UK is still very much the Nigel Farage show.
He wants to control the narrative and remain the figurehead, and will only give up leadership in Scotland to someone he can trust. Given how much Mr Offord gave up to defect to his party, it is hard to see how anyone else will be considered.
Mr Farage will be in Scotland on Thursday to announce the new Scottish leader of Reform UK.
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