Reform MSP Amanda Bland quits party to sit as independent, making Labour Holyrood's second-largest group

Reform UK MSP Amanda Bland has quit the party to sit as an independent at Holyrood, making Labour the second-largest group in the Scottish Parliament.

A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said Ms Bland, regional MSP for Central Scotland and Lothians West, “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.”

Reform UK Scotland confirmed her departure: “We can confirm Amanda Bland has resigned as a Reform UK member of the Scottish Parliament to sit as an independent MSP.” The party urged her to resign her regional list seat too: “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.”

The defection drops Reform from 17 to 16 seats and into third place, handing Labour — also on 17 seats — first bite at First Minister’s Questions. Both parties finished joint second in May’s election behind the SNP on 58 seats.

Her Scottish Parliament profile lists her as an independent MSP from 19 October 2026, a Reform UK MSP from 7 May 2026, and a member of the Criminal Justice Committee. A former primary school teacher and police officer, she was among the 17 Reform candidates returned to Holyrood in May.

Sources: The Scottish Sun · Messenger Newspapers · Scottish Parliament — Amanda Bland