MALCOLM Offord didn’t show up for any first-time MSP induction sessions but took advantage of the free lunches, an MSP has said.
The Reform UK Scotland leader is understood to have not shown up for various sessions for new MSPs such as how to vote, how to use your security pass, and pay and pensions.
The former Tory peer also didn’t appear in the group photograph for new members of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, May 12.
However, Offord apparently found the time during his first full day as an MSP to take advantage of the free lunches available, and take on some media bids.
Scottish Greens MSP Holly Bruce – who was in the same group as Offord for the MSP introductory sessions – told The National Offord’s behaviour should “worry voters” as his first day in the job he was “non-existent” rather than learning how to represent his constituents.
It is understood that introductory MSP sessions are not compulsory, and that attendance is not monitored.
It comes after it emerged Offord is under investigation by the Scottish charity regulator over the trust to which he previously vowed to donate his MSP salary.
He has also previously boasted about owning “six houses, five cars and six boats”, and was condemned during the Holyrood election campaign after it emerged he made a vile homophobic joke at a rugby club dinner in London.
Reform now have 17 MSPs in the Scottish Parliament, tied with Scottish Labour in second place following the May 7 elections.
Offord failed to win a constituency seat in the Scottish Parliament as the SNP held on in Inverclyde, but was elected as a regional list MSP for the West of Scotland.
There are 64 first-time MSPs elected to Holyrood following the election, with new politicians divided into groups for their introductory session on Tuesday. MSPs were then sworn in on Thursday, May 14, before electing Kenneth Gibson as the new Presiding Officer.
Bruce, the Scottish Greens MSP for Glasgow Southside, said: “Malcolm was in my induction group and he didn’t come to any of the induction training.
“This covered important information on Parliament working for all new MSPs, including committees and chamber business, pay and pension briefing, staff office provision, being an employer and meeting the previous Presiding Officer.
“He also skipped the new MSP group photo with the previous Presiding Officer, too.
“There could be personal reasons why he didn’t attend, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt that this was the case, but then he came to a free lunch and did media calls in the garden lobby.
“Unless he was allocated another group but to our knowledge he didn’t participate.”
Bruce shared a photograph with The National of Offord’s empty seat in the Holyrood Chamber, during one of the introductory sessions.
“It should worry his voters as it shows the type of MSP he’s willing to be – non-existent and here to play a political game rather than serve the constituents he was elected to represent.”
Reform UK Scotland did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “Participation in the Parliament’s induction sessions is a matter for each new Member.”
On Tuesday, Offord put himself forward to be first minister, losing out to SNP leader John Swinney, who is expected to appoint his Cabinet on Wednesday.
