West Lothian Reform UK MSP resigns from party to sit as independent
Reform UK now becomes third party at Holyrood and Labour is main opposition
Reform UK lost its first MSP today as Amanda Bland, who was elected on the Central Scotland and Lothians West list, resigned to sit as an independent.
It means Reform is now reduced from 17 to 16 seats, becoming the third party in the Scottish Parliament with one seat less than Labour.
Reform confirmed her resignation from the party and called on her to stand down as an MSP.
And 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 stood in the Falkirk East and Linlithgow seat at the Holyrood elections in May, finishing in third place behind the SNP and Labour, with 21 per cent of the vote.
At that time, the party said her professional background spanned roles in law, child protection, safeguarding and education and she was a qualified and experienced teacher.
Today 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.”
If she did stand down, her seat would automatically be allocated to the next Reform candidate on the list, restoring the party to level pegging with Labour with 17 seats in the parliament.
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.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat David Green MSP said: "It's no surprise to see Reform's wheels coming off just a few months after they entered the Scottish parliament for the first time.
“After a chaotic campaign in the spring, the party has been hit by scandal after scandal, and I'm sure more and more of its MSPs will be taking a long hard look at what they've signed up for."