The Aporia
The Aporia
Paton, C. (2026, October 19). Labour becomes Holyrood’s second biggest party after Reform MSP resigns whip. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/holyrood-reform-reform-uk-scottish-parliament-b1301430.html
Paton, Craig. “Labour becomes Holyrood’s second biggest party after Reform MSP resigns whip.” Evening Standard, 19 Oct. 2026, https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/holyrood-reform-reform-uk-scottish-parliament-b1301430.html.
Paton, Craig. “Labour becomes Holyrood’s second biggest party after Reform MSP resigns whip.” Evening Standard, October 19, 2026. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/holyrood-reform-reform-uk-scottish-parliament-b1301430.html.
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As of October 19, 2026, Labour became the second-largest party at the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) after Reform UK MSP Amanda Bland resigned from her party and now sits as an independent. Both Labour and Reform had initially secured 17 seats following May’s election, but Bland's resignation dropped Reform to 16 seats and into third place. This shift means Reform will likely lose its second position in questioning the First Minister at Holyrood every other week. Reform UK urged Bland to resign her seat entirely, while Labour criticized Reform for failing to hold the SNP accountable since their election promises. On October 20, Reform leader Lord Malcolm Offord accused Bland of attempting to "squat" at Holyrood and dismissed her claims that she could still represent her constituents effectively as an independent.
