Reform's leader in Scotland Malcolm Offord reveals cancer diagnosis

Reform UK's leader in Scotland has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer on the day of the Holyrood election on 7 May.

Malcolm Offord said he had a procedure last week to remove his prostate and was now "clear" and "raring to go".

Speaking to comedian Matt Forde at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he said being diagnosed with cancer was a "scary thing" and urged men to "just get checked".

Offord, a former Conservative peer, led Reform to a Scottish Parliament breakthrough in May with 17 seats.

He told Forde that being diagnosed with cancer was "scary".

But he added: "I've got a couple of pals who have been through this, so it doesn't hold the same level of fear.

"I think the benefit is people now talking about this, particularly men who didn't talk about this in the past."

Offord said he was "feeling pretty good" after surgery.

"The thing about the prostate is it is out and gone, I can move on," he said.

"But the point is it is pretty routine, I am 61 years old, about to become 62, it happens in a lot of men that age.

"The good news is that medics are all over this, they know what they are doing, they know how to fix this, they can fix it fast and there is plenty of life after that."

Offord urged men to "just get checked".

Reform's Scottish Parliament success in May left Offord as leader of the joint-second biggest party at Holyrood.

The ex-Tory minister has previously spoken of his ambition to become Scotland's first minister.