Unelected Conservative Party Donor Made a Scotland Office Minister as Sleaze Accusations Mount

In a appointment that has led to accusations of "cronyism" and "contempt for democracy" a Conservative party donor, who failed to win election to Holyrood (Scottish Parliament), is to be made a Scotland Office minister. Malcolm Offord is to be made a minister in the Scotland Office by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This is despite him failing to win a seat in the Scottish Parliamentary elections in May of this year.

Businessman Malcolm Offord will be given a peerage to allow him to take up the UK government role. It has also been revealed that he had previously donated £2500 to Michael Gove, a British conservative politician, who is at present a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom. It has been reported that he has given £147,500 to the Conservatives.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) have been scathing in their criticism of the appointment. The SNP's Cabinet Office spokesman Stewart Hosie has stated that Mr Offord's appointment through a seat in the House of Lords was an example of "the sleaze at the heart of the UK government". 

Image: Malcolm Offord.