Reform UK members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) left the chamber during a session at the Scottish Parliament after their attempt to cancel a debate on Scottish independence failed. The debate was initiated by John Swinney, Scotland’s First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), who argued that Scotland, as a nation, has the right to determine its own future. The motion, which supports the idea of an independence referendum, is expected to pass later on Tuesday. Malcolm Offord, leader of Reform UK in Scotland, criticized the debate, calling it a "farce." He argued that constitutional issues, such as independence, are reserved matters, meaning they are handled at the UK level rather than in the Scottish Parliament. After unsuccessful attempts to persuade Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson to cancel the debate, Offord led his colleagues out of the chamber. He described the debate as ill-judged, self-serving, and inappropriate, and stated that Reform UK would not continue participating in such discussions. Offord emphasized that Scottish voters want their representatives to focus on pressing issues like homelessness, public finances, and the rising number of drug-related deaths, rather than engaging in what he called "vanity projects." He believes that the time and energy of MSPs should be directed toward solving these critical problems instead of debating constitutional questions. Despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s initial statement that a second referendum on independence is "off limits," he later retracted those comments, clarifying that he did not support the idea of another referendum. However, Swinney remained firm in his position, stating that Burnham’s opposition to an independence referendum "cannot hold." He argued that the people of Scotland should have the right to decide when such a referendum takes place. Swinney referenced the 2014 independence referendum, where 55% of voters chose to remain in the UK, but stressed that this does not mean the right to hold another referendum is forever closed. He emphasized that Scotland is a nation with the right to choose its future and that the UK is a voluntary union where nations can decide whether to remain part of it or pursue independence.