Reform UK Scottish leader announces frontbench reshuffle at Holyrood

Reform UK’s Scottish leader, Malcolm Offord, has reshuffled his front bench team at Holyrood after his party lost an MSP.

Amanda Bland, who had been Reform UK’s justice spokeswoman in the Scottish Parliament, announced last week she had quit the party and would sit as an independent MSP.

Glasgow MSP Kim Schmulian now takes over the justice brief for Reform, with South of Scotland MSP Senga Beresford now taking on the role of education spokeswoman for the party.

Other changes see Edinburgh and Lothians East MSP Amanda Ross become the party’s finance spokeswoman at Holyrood, while Amanda Lindsay, who represents Central Scotland and Lothians West, will speak on issues affecting women and girls.

Announcing the changes, Lord Offord said the party had “shuffled our talented team to benefit from our great mix of experience, skill and determination”.

He added: “Over the first six months of this parliament, we’ve seen the impact their contributions have had in bringing fresh perspective to a tired Holyrood.”

With the party focused on presenting an “alternative vision for a prosperous Scotland” he said his shadow cabinet team would “drive that ambition forward”.