Reform MSPs Trial New Approach To Democracy: Walking Out

The Scottish Parliament passed a motion on Tuesday declaring that Scotland is a nation with the right to decide its own future, a statement so uncontroversial in its wording that it passed with cross-party support.

Reform UK took this as an opportunity to unveil their new democratic approach to things they disagree with – just leave.

Malcolm Offord, Lord Offord, Baron Offord of Garvel, and also the leader of Reform UK in Scotland, first attempted to have the debate cancelled entirely on the grounds that constitutional matters are reserved to Westminster and therefore should not be discussed in the devolved parliament that exists specifically to discuss Scottish matters.

When Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson declined to cancel Scottish parliamentary business, Lord Offord called the debate a farce, withdrew his amendment, and led his MSPs out of the chamber.

“We didn’t come into parliament to waste our time,” he told journalists, from parliament, where he had spent the morning attempting to cancel a debate and then walking out of it when he didn’t get his way.

The motion — that Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide its own future — was subsequently passed.

It does not grant a referendum, set a date for one, or compel the Westminster government to permit one.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has already said a second referendum is off limits, before appearing to suggest it might not be, before clarifying that it was.

Reform, a party whose entire brand rests on the principle that politicians should stop ignoring the will of the people and fully engage with democracy, left before the vote.