MSP who quit Reform is set to keep her Holyrood justice committee seat despite 'squatting' row with party leader

Reform has no power to remove Amanda Bland from Holyrood's criminal justice committee, and an insider says there is 'no appetite' among members to vote her off. The former police officer is praised for asking 'incisive questions'. Ex-SNP MSP John Mason set the precedent, keeping his finance committee seat after losing the whip in 2024. Her exit leaves Reform with 16 MSPs to Labour's 17.

Reform Scotland leader Lord Malcolm Offord accused Bland of planning to 'squat' for four-and-a-half years.

Offord admitted her departure was 'annoying and irritating' but insisted it won't 'derail' Reform.

Bland disputes that a meeting convened to discuss high staff turnover in her office prompted her resignation.