Reform loses first MSP and drops into third place at Holyrood

Amanda Bland, right, is no longer a Reform UK MSP. Pic: Michael Gillen

Reform UK has lost its first MSP as the party dropped into third place at Holyrood.

Amanda Bland has quit Nigel Farage’s party and is now listed as an independent on the Scottish Parliament website.

It means Scottish Labour is now the second biggest party in Holyrood, with Reform in third.

Reform UK confirmed that Ms Bland is no longer one of the party’s MSPs and said she should quit Holyrood.

A spokesperson for Reform UK Scotland said: “We can confirm Amanda Bland has resigned as a Reform UK member of the Scottish Parliament to sit as an independent MSP.

“We are proud of a talented and united team of MSPs at Holyrood who have supported each other at every step of the way.

“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 Central Scotland and Lothians West and allow her constituents to be represented by the next Reform candidate on that list.”

A person familiar with the situation said that Ms Bland had quit ahead of a meeting with business manager Max Bannerman about two members of staff who had recently left her employment.

The Reform UK source said: "She was very difficult to deal with. She had fired a member of her staff for not meeting her standards.

"Her office manager quit last week.

"She was going to be called into a meeting with Max Bannerman to see what was going on and she has left before that.

"She wasn't a team player, she didn't come along to team or MSP meetings.

"Maloclm Offord had to have a word with her after she tried to miss a policy meeting.

“She has a maverick mindset.”

Labour has 17 MSPs, with Reform now on 16. They had finished in joint second place with 17 MSPs in May’s Holyrood election.

Labour is the single second largest party in Holyrood for the first time in a decade.

Leader Michael Marra will now get the first opportunity to question John Swinney at FMQs every week, rather than alternating with Reform UK Scottish leader Malcolm Offord.

Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said: "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.”

A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: "The Member wrote to the Presiding Officer today to inform him she has resigned from the party with immediate effect and will continue to serve as an independent MSP. No reason was given for the resignation."

Ms Bland was approached for comment.