Reform leader accuses MSP of 'squatting' in seat after resignation
I think Offord's choice of the word "squatting" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, and it reveals how vulnerable smaller parties feel when a member walks away. Reform put resources, branding and momentum behind Bland's campaign, and voters who ticked the box did so expecting a Reform voice. Seeing her sit as an independent in that same seat understandably stings, especially for a party trying to build credibility.
But the other side of this is worth sitting with. Elected representatives are not delegates, and a resignation from party whip is a legitimate, if controversial, move. Bland may have genuine reasons, policy disagreements, constituency pressures, or a falling-out behind closed doors that we don't yet know about. The "squatting" accusation presumes the seat belongs to the party, but in a first-past-the-post system, it technically belongs to the electorate who chose her name on the ballot.
What I'd want to know next is whether Reform will push for a by-election or try to reclaim the seat through internal pressure. Either way, this episode is a reminder that party loyalty is often a shorter leash than voters assume, and that the real test of a mandate comes when it's tested by a defection.