Scottish elections: all candidates confirmed for Fife constituencies in May 7 vote
The Scottish election campaign is officially underway with all candidates across the Fife constituencies now in place.
The deadline to stand passed last night - anyone who drops out now cannot be replaced.
Constituency candidates include several Fife councillors bidding to make the move to Holyrood in the May 7 poll - and several sitting MSPs are up for re-election.
In Kirkcaldy David Torrance is defending the seat he has held for the SNP since 2011 - it was his triumph that gave the party its first ever majority at Holyrood. Mr Torrance increased his majority to almost 8000 at the 2021 election.
For the third time he will be challenged by Labour’s Claire Baker who is also a list MSP. Architect Fraser Graham stands again for the Lib Dems after previously contesting the General Election for the Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy seat.
Councillor Julie MacDougall has also thrown her hat into the ring with Reform UK having joined the party after quitting Labour and sitting as an independent, arguably making her political journey the most interesting of all candidates. The Conservatives confirmed their candidate on the application deadline with Heather Greig standing for the party.
In Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Jenny Gilruth is also bidding to retain her seat for the SNP. In 2021, the Education Secretary increased her majority from 8276 to 10,234. Afifa Khanam is Labour’s candidate, with Edward Scorche is standing for the Lib Dems.
Niamh Heald is standing for the Conservatives, while ReformUK have confirmed Sacha Haworth as the replacement for Roland Jackson who said last week he was no longer standing, and blamed an “administrative error” for the announcement of his name.
In the Liberal Democrat heartland of North East Fife, Willie Rennie is defending the seat he has held since 2016.
He faces a challenge from Glenrothes’ councillor John Beare, with Elizabeth Carr-Ellis standing for Labour, and Edward Sheasby for the Tories, with William Docherty standing for ReformUK.
In Dunfermline, Shirley Anne-Somerville is seeking another term as MSP for the SNP, with Laura Buchanan-Quigley standing for the Lib Dems, Thomas Heald for the Conservatives, Joe Long for Labour and Otto Inglis for Reform UK
In Cowdenbeath, voters are spoiled for choice with no fewer than six candidates. The list features current councillors David Barratt (SNP), Darren Watt (Conservatives), and James Calder (Lib Dems), along with Mark Davies (Reform UK), Laurie Moffat (Alliance to Liberate Scotland & Sovereignty) and Fiona Sword (Labour).