In a plot twist no one saw coming - except perhaps his doctors - Reform UK's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer on the very day of the Holyrood election, 7 May. Because apparently, even cancer waits for no poll.

Offord, a former Conservative peer, shared the news with comedian Matt Forde at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he described the diagnosis as a 'scary thing' but urged men to 'just get checked'. He's now 'clear' after a procedure last week to remove his prostate, and is, in his words, 'raring to go'.

Offord led Reform to a Scottish Parliament breakthrough in May, snagging 17 seats and becoming leader of the joint-second biggest party at Holyrood. He told Forde that while cancer is scary, he had a couple of pals who'd been through it, so it didn't hold the same level of fear. He also noted the benefit of people talking about it, particularly men who didn't in the past.

Feeling 'pretty good' after surgery, Offord quipped: 'The thing about the prostate is it is out and gone, I can move on.' He added, '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.'

And plenty of ambition, apparently. The ex-Tory minister has previously spoken of his desire to become Scotland's first minister. So, prostate removed, sights set on Bute House - what could possibly stop him now?