Reform UK Scotland leader Lord Malcolm Offord has accused MSP Amanda Bland of attempting to "squat" in the Scottish Parliament for the remainder of her term after she quit the party. Bland, who secured her seat on the regional list for Central Scotland and Lothians West, announced her departure on Monday after "careful deliberation." She will now sit as an independent MSP.
Lord Offord described Bland's decision as "annoying and irritating" but stated it would not "derail" the party's efforts. He contrasted her move with that of Graham Simpson, another regional list MSP who defected from the Conservatives to Reform last year. "He did it after four-and-a-half years," Offord noted. "It was only eight months left in the parliamentary term and he had worked out that the Conservative Party had completely given up in Scotland."
Offord argued that Bland's situation is different, as she is leaving only a few months into the parliamentary term, suggesting she intends to remain in her list seat for roughly four-and-a-half more years. "So she is now proposing to squat for four-and-a-half years in a list place won by Reform," he said. "It just looks to the voting public that there is a distinction between a constituency MSP, where you have won a personal mandate, and a list MSP, where you are literally there just on the vote for the party."
During an interview on BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, Lord Offord expressed disappointment in Bland's departure, acknowledging her talent but emphasizing the need for team players. He also commented on the political climate at Holyrood, describing it as having a "poisonous atmosphere" but denied that Reform UK has contributed to increased vitriol. "We speak in measured language but we talk the truth," he asserted.
The departure of Ms. Bland has caused Reform to slip into third place in the Scottish Parliament, resulting in the loss of certain parliamentary privileges, including the right to question the First Minister first. Offord conceded this was "annoying and irritating" but reiterated that it would not hinder the party's objectives. He also criticized Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra for allegedly "cosying up to the SNP," positioning Reform as the true opposition.
Regarding recent reports of police assessing a complaint about Reform UK candidates' spending rules during the Holyrood elections, Offord dismissed them as "purely administrative errors." He claimed the necessary details were included but not submitted correctly.
In response to footage shown in a recent ITV documentary involving Reform candidates, Offord described the content as "appalling" but maintained that the party is not racist. He stated that the documentary highlighted only "a handful" of individuals who should be removed and suspended from the party.