I am aware, as I construct this column in my head, that I risk portraying myself as exceptionally cynical, or at the very least advocating an exceptionally cynical form of politics. Nonetheless, here I go.

I should start by saying that I don’t know Amanda Bland, the now independent, former Reform UK MSP. So, I have no awareness of why she decided to leave the party earlier this week. I spend a lot of time at the Scottish Parliament in a professional capacity, and have gradually gotten to know a number of Reform MSPs, but Ms Bland is not one of them.

However, when I received a push notification from The Herald with the news of Ms Bland’s departure, it was not met with shock. Far from it. In my line of work, we’ve been playing bingo since the election in May to determine which Reform MSP would be the first to leave the group.

My second reaction, after “well, that was inevitable”, was that Ms Bland has probably made a good career move. I know and like several Reform MSPs, including the leader Malcolm Offord, but it is not hyperbolic to say that the performance of the party has been tactically and strategically shambolic from day one. This party is going nowhere.

Read more by Andy Maciver

SNP members need some tough love

Kemi is a winner - but not yet

Why peak Andy Burnham could be the best moment to call an election

And, to be clear, it never really was. Shortly after the election, I wrote on these pages that Mr Offord needed a summer reset, and I had spoken before the election about the risks for him and his MSPs of........

© Herald Scotland