Reform MSP quits party to sit as independent

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Avove: Amanda Bland represents Central Scotland and Lothians West.

Glenn Campbell, BBC Scotland political editor, and Angus Cochrane, senior political journalist.

MSP Amanda Bland has quit Reform UK Scotland to sit as an independent.

The resignation relegates the party to the third-largest group at Holyrood, with one member fewer than Labour, which means that Loch Lomondside resident Malcolm Offord will lose his place at the front of the queue to qyestion JOhn Swinney at First Minister’s Questions.

A Reform UK source told BBC Scotland News that Bland was “very difficult to work with” and had been called to a meeting on Wednesday to discuss a high turnover of staff in her office.

Bland, who represents Central Scotland and Lothians West as a list MSP, is yet to comment.

A Reform spokesperson said: “Amanda Bland should reflect on her reasons for choosing to isolate herself from that team of capable individuals.

“It is incumbent on her to resign as a regional MSP for Central Scotland and Lothians West and allow her constituents to be represented by the next Reform candidate on that list.”

Under Holyrood’s rules, a list MSP would be replaced by their party’s next candidate at the last election if they resigned.

Bland, a former primary school teacher and police officer, was among 17 Reform candidates to be returned to the Scottish Parliament in May as the party made its electoral breakthrough north of the border.

The party finished in joint second with Labour, behind the SNP on 58 seats.

A graph showing the state of the Scottish Parliament, arranged by party affiliation.

Reform’s cohort, led by former Conservative minister Malcolm Offord, have repeatedly invoked the condemnation of the chamber – most notably after staging a walkout during an independence debate, and by tabling a motion proposing a burka ban.

Currently, Offord is first to question John Swinney at First Minister’s Questions every other week, alternating with Labour. The party will lose that privilege.

Dumbarton MSP and Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie, left, commented: “No one will be surprised to see chaos at the heart of Reform.  They have always been a group of chancers, grifters and Tories in disguise.
“Despite all the big talk and promises ahead of the election, Nigel Farage’s party has been utterly useless at holding the SNP to account or getting results for the Scottish people; it’s been a series of stunts, gimmicks, photo calls and precious little else.
“Scottish Labour is now the second largest party at Holyrood, and we will work to hold the SNP to account and deliver better outcomes for the people of Scotland.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat David Green MSP said that Reform had been hit by “scandal after scandal”.

He added: “I’m sure more and more of its MSPs will be taking a long hard look at what they’ve signed up for.”

The Scottish Parliament confirmed Bland’s resignation and said its website had been updated accordingly.

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