Deacon Blue 'appalled' as Reform UK's Offord quotes Dignity lyrics

The Reform UK leader in Scotland, who was appointed earlier this month by Nigel Farage, has repeatedly quoted from the band’s hit song Dignity during two press conferences.

The former Tory peer has used the song – which tells the story of a council worker who saves to buy a boat in retirement – as an analogy for his own life, which now sees him racing yachts and reportedly owning a £1.6 million home near Loch Lomond.

Speaking at a press conference in Renfrewshire on Monday, where he set out his party’s plan to cut taxes by £2 billion immediately after an election win, Mr Offord quoted from the song, adding: “I love this song, not just for the words and the music, but for the message of working hard and saving up to make your dreams come true.”

Reform’s Scottish leader has quoted heavily from the song (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA)

He continued: “I think these lyrics encapsulate the essence of Scotland.

“I want everyone in Scotland to work, to save up their money and to follow their dreams.”

However, in a statement to the Guardian, Deacon Blue said: “Once a song is released into the world it can be sung, listened to and loved or hated by anyone; that is just the nature of releasing a song.

“However, it appals us to see the lyrics of any of our songs being used to bolster a campaign and ideology which is completely at odds with what the song, and we as a band, believe.”

The band added: “It has been deeply depressing to see the poisonous rhetoric of Reform take hold in Scotland.”