Reform UK is no longer the joint second place party at Holyrood - a situation John Swinney argued was “an issue of deep concern”.
First Minister John Swinney has welcomed Reform being “diminished” at Holyrood after MSP Amanda Bland quit the party to stand as an independent.
Reform is no longer the joint second biggest party at the Scottish Parliament having equalled Labour’s 17 seats achieved at May’s election.
Mr Swinney said that Reform being the joint second party had been “an issue of deep concern” as he branded Nigel Farage’s party “a ragbag”.
In a statement to journalists, Ms Bland signalled her intention to carry on as an MSP but did not say why she quit the party.
READ MORE: Reform loses first MSP and drops into third place at Holyrood
Mr Swinney, speaking to journalists at Heathrow Airport prior to departing for his India trade visit, argued that “things are obviously changing”.
He added: “The decision of Amanda Bland to stand down from Reform, I think. Indicates what all of us could see - that Reform is a ragbag.
“It’s just a collection of people who don’t really make much of an effect on Holyrood debate.
“Obviously, this diminishes their status. I welcome that because I think the fact that Reform were the joint second party in the Scottish Parliament was an issue of deep concern. We’ll engage with parliament on the basis of the new arithmetic.”
The SNP leader stressed that Ms Bland’s resignation from Reform would not make “much of a practical difference” as he pointed to the huge gulf in numbers between his party and that of Labour and Reform.
READ MORE: Reform was always expected to lose an MSP - but not so quickly
“The key outcome of the election in May was that there has never been as large a gap between the leading party and the second party as there is just now”, Mr Swinney said.
“We won the election with 58 seats, the Labour party has 17 - it’s a gap of 41 seats.
“So I don’t think it changes the dynamics of parliament that significantly, other than to diminish the role of Reform, which I welcome very much.”
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Mr Swinney’s criticism of Reform comes as the party’s Scottish leader, Malcolm Offord, insisted Ms Bland’s decision to quit will not “derail” its plans.
Mr Offord said he was “clearly disappointed” that Ms Bland had quit the party and would “squat” in the seat, but that it would not impact their plans.
He said: “She feels that she can make more impact standing as an independent.
“The reality is that she came in on the Reform ticket, and 385,000 Scots voted for Reform and voted for 17 MSPs.”
Asked how badly the party would be impacted by losing an MSP, he told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme: “I would say it’s annoying and irritating. But it doesn’t actually derail what we’re trying to do.”
He added: “I’ll be on second after Michael Marra, and we will need to lead the opposition against what looks like a cosy consensus between Labour and the SNP.
READ MORE: Swinney's 'sophisticated' Choose Scotland campaign shows SNP's independence push treading water
“And we need to get into the shambles of the public sector reform, the councils, the NHS, the health service, the drug deaths, the homelessness figures. That’s where we’ll need to focus.”
He said that Reform will be “loud and proud in the chamber”.
Reform UK Scotland have urged Ms Bland to quit Holyrood and allow another MSP from the party to take her place, despite the party’s first two MSPs - Michelle Ballantyne and Graham Simpson both being defectors on the regional list.
Mr Offord said: “She’s now proposing to squat in a list place won by Reform for four and a half years.
“It just looks to the voting public – I would say there’s a distinction between a constituency MSP where you have won I would say a personal mandate.
“If you’re a list MSP, you’re listed there just on the vote for the party.”