FORMER MP Roger Mullin has today launched a bid for the Scottish Parliament.

Mullin won the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat once held by Gordon Brown in 2015, becoming the first SNP politician to represent the area in Westminster.

He was narrowly defeated by Labour's Lesley Laird in 2017 and has since run consultancy business Momentous Change with Michelle Thomson, another member of “the 56”, as the SNP's victorious 2015 candidates were known.

In February, The National revealed that Mullin was in talks about mounting a campaign for next year's Scottish Parliament elections.

Today he has confirmed that he'll seek to become the SNP candidate for the Kirkcaldy constituency.

The National:

However, the seat is currently held by the SNP's David Torrance, who confirmed on Thursday that he will ask local branch members to choose him to contest the seat once again.

Confirming the move, Mullin said: “We live in very different times, with huge challenges ahead.  But we also face the opportunity of achieving Scottish independence, so long as we marshall the most effective voices in its cause.

“I have a track record of helping develop and influence national policies, as well as serving local constituents. Both are needed at the current time.

“In the coming weeks I will set out in greater detail my prospectus for the future. This will include addressing the cause of Scottish Independence and the needs of a post pandemic economy and society.

“I have big plans too for further developing services for constituents and the creation of a 'Team SNP' across the constituency. There is much to be done.”

On Thursday, Torrance said he was “delighted” to seek re-selection.

Today he told The National: “It has been my absolute privilege to represent Kirkcaldy — the town of my birth — as MSP since 2011.

“I am very proud of the work I have done on behalf of my constituents during nearly a decade at Holyrood and as a local councillor for more than 15 years before that.

“I do not take the support of my home town for granted, but as we head into the branch selection process, I do believe the commitment I have shown to helping local communities over the last 27 years as an elected SNP member will be recognised by members.

“Moving towards next May's Scottish elections, I will continue working tirelessly and fighting on behalf of the good people of Kirkcaldy and the surrounding areas on the issues that matter to them while playing my full part in helping deliver independence for Scotland.”

In February, Mullin — who served on the SNP's Sustainable Growth Commission — told this newspaper: “Local parties will have to make a decision about whether they want to have a contest, whether there's an MSP in place or not.

“It's essential to be a good constituency member, but that's not enough. You have to be able to contribute to national policy in different ways.

“There's a need to prepare for an independent Scotland. We need to establish how we develop and implement things like a foreign policy. I can contribute to that.”