Far from being a saviour of the working class, Reform’s new leader in Scotland and his tax plans represent the protection of elites over working people, writes Herald columnist and STUC leader Roz Foyer.

Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord, wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that; tho' hundreds worship at his word, he's but a coof for a' that.

If you’ll divulge the topical if slightly clunky opening – it was Burns Night last week, after all – but Scotland’s Bard had his finger on the pulse with that passage.

You see, power and titles don’t confer on to a man, or anyone, privilege or status over their fellow worker. Especially inherited power or power gained through patronage and political connections.

Lord Malcolm Offord, the new Reform Scotland leader, is a prime example.

Spending his working career as a venture capitalist, serving the wealthy and the elites, is hardly a credible background to claim to be the solution to the problems facing the working class. Not to mention being a dyed in the wool (former) Tory grandee, who gladly served under Johnson, Sunak and Truss, until it became politically inconvenient.

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The Lord of the realm now finds himself a-top of a party in Scotland which revels in their apparent anti-establishment, radical credentials.

The only thing that’s radical is the stonking leap of logic required to believe that Reform are anything of the sort.

I understand people are looking for answers. Working class people, many of whom are attracted to Farage -........

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