Scottish elections: Fife councillors bid for Holyrood as candidates confirmed
The line-up of candidates standing in Fife constituencies at the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections is starting to take shape.
Voters go to the polls to elect their next MSPs on May 7, with the count taking place the following day.
Several sitting MSPS are standing for re-election, and they are joined by a number of serving councillors looking to make the step up to Holyrood.
In Kirkcaldy, David Torrance is bidding to retain 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, a former councillor, 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 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 in a bid to become an MSP. She is standing for ReformUK having joined the party after quitting Labour and sitting as an independent.
In Glenrothes and Mid Fife, Jenny Gilruth is bidding to retain her seat for the SNP. In 20221 she increased her majority from 8276 to 10,234.
Afifa Khanam is Labour’s candidate, with Edward Scorche standing for the Lib Dems, and Roland Jackson form Rform UK.
The Conservatives have yet to announce their candidates for the Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy seats.
North East Fife is set for, at least, a five-way contest. Willie Rennie is looking to win again after a decade in the seat he won from the SNP in 2016. He faces a challenge from Glenrothes councillor John Beare, with Elizabeth Carr-Ellis standing for Labour, and Edward Sheasby for the Tories.
Former Consevative councillor,Linda Holt is 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 ReformUK.
There are six candidates confirmed for the Cowdenbeath seat. The list features several serving councillors - including David Barratt (SNP), Darren Watt (Conservatives), and James Calder (Lib Dems), along with Mark Davies (ReformUK), Laurie Moffat (Alliance to Liberate Scotland & Sovereignty) and Fiona Sword (Labour).