Exclusive:Reform UK to chair two of Holyrood's most prominent committees

Nigel Farage’s party is expected to head up both the economy committee and the health committee.

The economy committee is set to cover energy as well.

A senior party source told The Scotsman they are “very pleased” to be chairing two of the most prominent committees in the Scottish Parliament.

They said: “We based our campaign on the economy, and it takes in energy which is a big issue for us, especially in the north-east.

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“Health is another major area that Holyrood has control over, so I am very pleased and we are looking forward to chairing that too.”

They added: “People shouldn’t be surprised at this because we won 17 seats, we are the joint opposition party, so it is very right we have the responsibility to occupy these serious committees.

“It is a big opportunity to show what our MSPs are made of and I am confident they will get put to good work.”

Before last month’s election, the party only had one MSP after Graham Simpson defected from the Scottish Conservatives. However, they managed to pick up 17 list seats, meaning they now represent every part of Scotland.

The source would not detail who would be named as the chairs of these two committees, but said they are “serious people” and the “obvious choices”.

Since the election, the party has announced Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Helen McDade as their health spokeswoman.

Malcolm Offord is the party’s economy spokesman, but party leaders often do not sit on parliamentary committees. North East MSP Duncan Massey is in charge of the energy portfolio for Reform UK in Holyrood.

For the first time, MSPs will elect each committee chair, however Reform UK says they are confident their candidates will not be blocked from taking the head seats on these two committees.

The vote for who sits on which committee will take place next week, but committees are not expected to start officially sitting until the week beginning June 15.