Offord's Old Joke Stirs Scottish Politics

0:00European news, powered by AI. This is Europe News today. I'm Corey with the story. Lord O'Ford, the reform UK leader in Scotland, is defending himself after a joke he made eight years ago at a rugby club dinner resurfaced this week. The remarks came to light as campaigning ramps up for May Scottish Parliament election, drawing sharp criticism from rival parties. He told BBC radio Scotland that he's received a huge amount of public support, with many saying he just told a bad joke and apologize, so what's the? Big deal. Offered called the media outrage fake and pointed to recent stepscandles, like a former council leader, guilty of five sexual assaults on young men and a health secretary who quit over an 11,000 pound iPad bill fraud claim. Offered admitted the joke was probably homophobic and a mistake made as a private individual before entering politics. He stressed that public office demands higher standards, but everyone learns on the job. In response, he issued a very public apology to the rugby club

1:03and donated around 2,000 pounds to King's Cross Steelers, the world's first gay inclusive rugby union club. He says everyone involved was satisfied and the issue from eight years ago is resolved. Meanwhile, First Minister John Swinney says, offered isn't fit to be an MSP. Labor calls the remarks horrific, but Scottish Tory leader Russell Finley argues the old joke shouldn't bar him from office. With the election battle in tentifying, past comments continue to stir debate across Scottish politics.