Reform's Scottish leader accuses Amanda Bland of 'squatting' in a Reform-won Holyrood seat after she quit the party

Malcolm Offord accused Bland of 'proposing to squat in a list place won by Reform for four-and-a-half years' and said she lacks any 'personal mandate' as a list MSP. A Reform source describes her as 'difficult to work with'. According to claims she denies, a meeting had been arranged to address high staff turnover in her office, and she rejects suggestions that this drove her resignation. Reform's departure drops to third place at Holyrood as a result of her departure.

First Minister John Swinney branded Nigel Farage's party 'a ragbag' and welcomed it being 'diminished'.

Offord argued Graham Simpson's defection was different because he had only eight months left to serve.

Bland insists her 'principles and priorities remain unchanged' and will sit as an independent.