Two Fife Reform candidates have quit the Scottish election race - just a week after being unveiled.

Linda Holt has stepped away from the North East Fife constituency campaign after the party dropped her to the foot of its regional list.

Ms Holt was placed eighth among the nine names, effectively ending her hopes of becoming an MSP unless she won the seat outright from the Lib Dems’ Willie Rennie.

The former Tory councillor announced her decision to quit on X, formerly Twitter, stating: “Due to a lack of support from the party, I am withdrawing my candidacy for Reform with immediate effect. I thank all those who have supported me, and I wish the remaining candidates well.”

Two Fife Reform candidates have quit the Scottish election race (Pic: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)

placeholder image — Two Fife Reform candidates have quit the Scottish election race (Pic: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)

In a follow-up message, she said: “When I tweeted about a lack of support from the party, it wasn't financial.”

Ms Holt had come under criticism for previous offensive comments she posted about Humza Yousaf, former First Minister.

As a councillor, she represented the East Neuk and Landward constituency, quitting as a Tory in 2019 - she had served as deputy leader of the Try Group at Fife House - and sitting as an independent.

In 2023, and by then a former councillor she was censured for breaching the code of conduct after being found to have behaved disrespectfully towards the secretary of a community council at a community council meeting held in August 2021.

Reform also now has no candidate in the Glenrothes constituency election after Rolan Jackson dropped out.

The former soldier, who runs a health and wellbeing business in Fife, said the party had announced him as a candidate in error.

He said: ‘My name was published prematurely in error but I am unable to stand for family reasons.‘I went through the process but I notified Reform at the eleventh hour and sadly it was an administrative error at their end.”

Malcolm Offord, Reform UK’s leader in Scotland said: “The party is disappointed by Linda and Roland’s decision to step aside, but we want to record our respect for the commitment they showed in putting themselves forward. Standing as a candidate is never easy at the best of times, but that challenge is even tougher when you are doing it for a party that has entrenched interests lined up against it.I wish them both well.”