The key facts

  • Amanda Bland, a list MSP for Central Scotland and Lothians West, has left Reform UK Scotland and become an independent
  • Reform UK has dropped to third place at Holyrood, one seat behind Labour
  • A Reform source cited high staff turnover in Bland's office as the reason; she has not yet commented

Resignation from the party

Scottish Parliament member (MSP) Amanda Bland has left Reform UK Scotland and will sit as an independent member. She represents the Central Scotland and Lothians West region on the regional list. Bland herself, who previously worked as a primary school teacher and a police officer, has not yet commented on her decision. The Scottish Parliament confirmed the resignation and said it had updated the information on its website.

Reasons according to Reform

A Reform UK source told BBC Scotland News that Bland was 'very difficult to work with' and that she had been called to a meeting on Wednesday to discuss high staff turnover in her office. A party spokesperson said Bland should 'reflect on the reasons why she decided to isolate herself from a team of capable people' and urged her to stand down as a regional member so that her voters could be represented by the next Reform candidate on the list.

Consequences for the balance of power

After Bland's departure, Reform UK has become only the third-largest group at Holyrood, one seat behind Labour. The party, led in parliament by former Conservative minister Malcolm Offord, won 17 seats in the May elections, tying with Labour for second place; the SNP leads with 58 seats. Under current Holyrood rules, if a regional list member resigns, their seat goes to the next candidate from that party in the last election. Due to the loss of its status, Reform will likely lose the right to alternate with Labour in asking the first question to First Minister John Swinney every two weeks at First Minister's Questions.

Reaction from opponents

Deputy leader of Scottish Labour Jackie Baillie said: 'Nobody will be surprised by the chaos at the heart of Reform,' adding that the party had been 'absolutely useless' in holding the SNP to account and that 'it has been all stunts, gimmicks and photo ops and very little else.' Liberal Democrat member David Green said Reform was beset by 'scandal after scandal' and suggested that more of its members would be 'looking closely at what they have got themselves into.'

Context

The Reform group has repeatedly attracted attention with dramatic actions: in September its members walked out of the chamber in protest against a debate on independence, and in October they faced accusations of racism after tabling a motion to ban the burka.

A woman with shoulder-length fair hair in a close-up. She is wearing a black jacket and floral scarf, with a wooden podium in the background Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Amanda Bland represents Central Scotland and Lothians West

Thomas Kerr, who has short brown hair, wearing a business suit. There are people behind him using laptops.