Losing an MSP will not ‘derail’ Reform UK Scotland’s plans, says Offord

Reform’s Scottish leader has said losing its place as Scotland’s second biggest party after an MSP quit will not “derail” its plans.

Malcolm Offord said that Reform will still be “loud and proud” in the chamber despite dropping to 16 seats.

Reform UK Scotland confirmed on Monday that Amanda Bland had resigned the whip and would sit as an independent.

Both Reform and Labour had 17 seats following May’s election, but the decision by Ms Bland – a regional MSP for Central Scotland and Lothians West – drops her former party to 16 seats and into third place.

In a statement to journalists, Ms Bland signalled her intention to carry on as an MSP but did not say why she quit the party.

Mr Offord said he was “clearly disappointed” that Ms Bland has quit the party and would “squat” in the seat, but that it would not affect their plans.

He said: “She feels that she can make more impact standing as an independent.

“The reality is that she came in on the Reform ticket, and 385,000 Scots voted for Reform and voted for 17 MSPs.”

Asked how badly the party would be impacted by losing an MSP, he told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme: “I would say it’s annoying and irritating. But it doesn’t actually derail what we’re trying to do.”

He added: “I’ll be on second after Michael Marra, and we will need to lead the opposition against what looks like a cosy consensus between Labour and the SNP.

“And we need to get into the shambles of the public sector reform, the councils, the NHS, the health service, the drug deaths, the homelessness figures. That’s where we’ll need to focus.”

He said that Reform will be “loud and proud in the chamber”.

Reform UK Scotland have urged Ms Bland to quit Holyrood and allow another MSP from the party to take her place.

Mr Offord said: “She’s now proposing to squat in a list place won by Reform for four and a half years.

“It just looks to the voting public – I would say there’s a distinction between a constituency MSP where you have won I would say a personal mandate.

“If you’re a list MSP, you’re listed there just on the vote for the party.”

The party’s first MSP Graham Simpson – who was re-elected in May – defected from the Scottish Tories and rejected calls for him to stand down to allow another Conservative to take his place.

In a statement on Monday, Ms Bland said: “To confirm today, I have formally resigned from Reform UK Scotland. This is my decision, made after careful deliberation.

“My priorities and principles remain unchanged. I entered politics to champion fairness and common sense, protect women and children, improve public services, support businesses to thrive, and work towards a fairer and more effective criminal justice system.”

She added: “My focus remains firmly on representing the people of Central Scotland and Lothians West and holding the Scottish Government to account in the public interest.

“I will not be making any further statements or giving interviews regarding Reform UK.

“My focus is on my responsibilities as an Independent MSP and on serving the people and communities I represent.”

Speaking to the Press Association on Tuesday, John Swinney said Ms Bland’s decision showed Reform to be a “ragbag” in Holyrood.

“The decision of Amanda Bland to stand down from Reform, I think, indicates what all of us could see – that Reform is a ragbag,” he said.

“It’s just a collection of people who don’t really make much of an effect on Holyrood debate and obviously this diminishes their status.

“I welcome that, because I think the fact that Reform were the joint second party in the Scottish Parliament was an issue of deep concern and we’ll engage with Parliament on the basis of the new arithmetic.”