Fifth Reform UK candidate quits Holyrood election race

A fifth candidate for Reform has dropped out of the Scottish election race the day after his partner quit following backlash over comments she made about Humza Yousaf.

James Glen, boss of St Andrews Taxis, said he backed partner Linda Holt’s decision to stand down in North East Fife as he followed suit.

He had been picked to contest a constituency in Edinburgh for Reform UK, but has now announced his withdrawal.

“I have withdrawn my candidacy for Reform UK”, he wrote on X.

“I fully support Linda in her decision and the reasons behind it. I wish the candidates the very best.”

Holt faced a backlash last week after The Courier revealed she previously branded former first minister Yousaf an “Islamist moron” and “not British”.

The Reform hopeful announced on Thursday she would no longer stand to be an MSP “due to a lack of support from the party”.

She wrote on X: “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.”

It came after she was placed eighth on the regional Mid Scotland and Fife list for Reform’s candidates.

Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord sought to play down the impact of the developments.

“We’ve lost five and counting, but it’s been a heroic effort to get 73 MSPs,” he told STV News.

“I’m in it to win, as I’ve said. We interviewed more than 300 people to get 70 candidates. It’s not easy to stand as an MSP, and even more difficult for a party like ours, which is an insurgent party.

“We are disruptors, which is why we’re getting all of this. There are a lot of vested interests who want to see us fail.”

Offord said he had “great admiration” for those who had put themselves forward, acknowledging that some had withdrawn at the last minute for personal reasons.

Despite the setbacks, he insisted the party would still contest every available seat.

“We’re going to field all 73 on May 7,” he added.