Amanda Bland Resigns from Reform UK to Sit as Independent
Amanda Bland resigned from Reform UK Scotland to sit as an independent MSP, making Scottish Labour the second largest party in the Scottish Parliament.
Regional MSP Amanda Bland resigned from Reform UK Scotland on October 19, 2026, to sit as an independent member for Central Scotland and Lothians West. Bland stated her decision followed "careful deliberation" and that she believes she can better hold the Scottish Government to account as an independent. She denied reports that her resignation was linked to a meeting regarding high staff turnover in her office.
The resignation reduces Reform UK's seat count to 16, stripping the party of its status as the second largest group in the Scottish Parliament and removing its priority for questioning First Minister John Swinney. Scottish Labour has now become the second largest party at Holyrood.
Reform UK Scotland and party leader Malcolm Offord have urged Bland to resign from parliament entirely. Offord accused Bland of "squatting" in a seat won via a party list rather than a personal mandate. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the loss of members as "regrettable" and suggested Bland should stand down. Offord further characterized the atmosphere at Holyrood as "poisonous" and dismissed reports of campaign spending violations as "purely administrative errors.
Opponents have used the departure to highlight internal instability. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie characterized the move as evidence of "chaos at the heart of Reform," describing the party as a group of "chancers, grifters and Tories in disguise."
