Scottish Parliamentary candidates 2026

Regional List

As you probably know, your second vote, on the Regional (Peach) ballot paper, helps elect our MSPs to represent the Mid-Scotland & Fife Region. The names on list include our five Fife candidates plus This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Roz McCall and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Here’s Stephen Kerr on the upcoming election.

“There is now less than six weeks until the Scottish Parliamentary elections, where we have a chance to remove the SNP from power. However, we can only do this by working together and making sure as many people as possible vote Scottish Conservative – especially on the peach ballot.

For the last five years our party has held the SNP to account when no-one else did. Without strong Scottish Conservative voices Nicola Sturgeon’s gender reform would be law. We are the only party who want to see the welfare bill reduced by getting people into work, we opposed the early release of prisoners and reductions in sentences, we called for action on school violence and are the only party who supported new oil and gas extraction from the North Sea.

We also have a positive plan for Scotland. We want to lower taxes to bring down the cost of living, proper standards in education, visible policing on the streets and to get government off the backs of business to create better jobs.

Over the next six weeks any support you can give will be vital to getting the Scottish Conservatives elected and stopping an SNP majority, whether that be knocking doors, delivering letters, phoning voters, providing donations or speaking to friends in your local community”.

Edward Sheasby - North East Fife

Edward Sheasby is proud to call North East Fife home.

Edward studied at the University of St Andrews, built a successful career, and lives with his partner in the area.

He is deeply connected to the community and understands the everyday challenges it faces. From high taxes, poor road conditions, NHS access problems, and seagull pests, he shares in these concerns and is committed to giving North East Fife a voice in Holyrood.

Edward developed a strong work ethic early in life through his family’s small business. He later became an APM Qualifed Project Manager, working with one of the world’s leading Aerospace frms. His private sector background brings valuable experience in accountability, efficiency, and common sense.

He has served on the Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council and currently sits on the Guardbridge & District Community Council, ensuring local voices are put in front of Fife Council.

Contact Edward
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Darren Watt - Cowdenbeath

Darren has been the  Scottish Conservative and Unionist councillor for the Cowdenbeath ward since 2017.

I am delighted to formally announce that I have been selected as your Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for the Cowdenbeath constituency for the upcoming Scottish Parliamentary elections in May 2026.

 

For nearly nine years as a Councillor for Cowdenbeath, I have focused on engagement, delivery, and real outcomes.

 

I work tirelessly supporting and assisting residents, community groups, charities, and local businesses with a prominent, proactive, and hands-on approach.

 

With that invaluable experience, I will be campaigning for pragmatic Conservatism and promote key policies that will support and enhance our everyday lives including a fairer, lower tax system that rewards work and ensures more of your hard-earned money rightfully stays with you.

 

I will back our police to keep our streets and communities safe, ensure our education system can meet the needs and aspirations of every young person, and work towards an NHS that is modern and efficient, and can cope with capacity and rising demand.

 

This campaign is not just about the Scottish Parliament; it’s about bringing meaningful change and opportunities to families, businesses, and communities throughout the Cowdenbeath constituency.

 

I hope I can count on your vote come Thursday 7 May.

You can email Darren at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thomas Heald - Dunfermline

Standing Up for Rural Dunfermline

When people think of Dunfermline they rightly picture a proud and historic city. But beyond the centre lies a vital part of our constituency that is too often overlooked- our rural communities.

From Saline to Limekilns and Charlestown and across the surrounding countryside, these communities are central to our local economy and way of life. Yet time and again as I knock on doors and speak to residents, I hear the same message: people feel like an afterthought when decisions are made.

One of the clearest examples is connectivity. Reliable broadband should be a given in 2026, yet too many homes and businesses still struggle with slow or unreliable service. In villages like Saline and in more rural parts of the constituency, this is a constant frustration raised with me on the doorstep and it is something I am determined to fight for. If we are serious about supporting enterprise, home working, and education, then improving rural digital infrastructure must be a priority.

Transport is another long-standing concern. Residents in places like Limekilns and Charlestown tell me how difficult it can be to rely on infrequent bus services or face rising costs just to get to work, access healthcare, or stay connected. For younger people especially, this can mean fewer opportunities and greater isolation. That is not good enough, and it is why I am pushing for practical, locally informed solutions that reflect the realities of rural life.

As Scottish Conservatives, we understand the importance of backing those who produce, create, and contribute to our local economy. I have spoken to farmers and small business owners who want to grow and invest, but too often feel held back. Supporting them by cutting unnecessary barriers and strengthening local supply chains is something I will continue to champion.

We must also take a balanced approach to development, protecting the countryside while ensuring sustainable growth.

Rural Dunfermline should never be an afterthought. It is a core part of our constituency and our future and it is exactly what I am fighting for as I speak to residents across Saline, Limekilns, Charlestown and beyond.

You can contact Thomas at:

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The Urgent Need for Vibrant, Beneficial Spaces on Kirkcaldy’s Waterfront

As a lifelong resident of the Kirkcaldy area, I am frustrated that the town’s seafront along the Firth of Forth has stood as one of its greatest wasted resources for far too long. The Esplanade boasts stunning views and a solid promenade, yet it functions more as a transit route than a vibrant destination. With £20 million secured from the UK Government’s Growth Mission Fund for the high street and waterfront, we must act decisively. Kirkcaldy needs vibrant, beneficial spaces that support existing traders and attract visitors. Anything less would squander this once-in-a-generation opportunity and deepen local frustration.

Public consultations make the priority crystal clear. A survey of nearly 700 residents ranked an attractive waterfront with business outlets as the top demand. Locals want lively spaces—outdoor seating, pop-up markets, event venues and small hospitality outlets—where people linger, spend and enjoy the coast. Instead, the seafront remains underused, disconnected from the high street, and lacking the attractions that draw day-trippers from across Fife and Edinburgh. This isolation directly harms existing traders, who lose out on vital footfall while the promenade fails to pull its weight as an economic driver.

The economic cost is unacceptable. Thriving Scottish coastal towns have transformed their waterfronts into bustling hubs that support nearby shops and services. In Kirkcaldy, the high street and seafront operate in isolation rather than reinforcing each other. Demolition of the Thistle Street and Esplanade car parks has opened up space, but plans must deliver more than another multi-use building like the proposed Adam Smith Growth Works. We need direct, bold activation of the Esplanade itself to create measurable growth—jobs, spending and private investment.

Fife Council’s emerging masterplan has rightly come under fire for not fully reflecting community voices. While the Growth Works may have a role, it cannot overshadow the urgent need for a commercially active, welcoming waterfront. The £20 million is tied to economic outcomes, and the most effective way to achieve them is through practical improvements: business-friendly zones, stronger linkages between the high street and seafront, and infrastructure for regular events. Repurposing vacant buildings and supporting independent retailers would help existing traders thrive while preserving the town’s character.

As your MSP, I would work tirelessly to deliver this outcome. I would continue pressing Fife Council to listen, ensure genuine co-design, and prioritise the vibrant seafront residents have demanded for years. Drop-in sessions in February 2026 showed strong engagement, and with funding flowing from April 2026, there is no excuse for delay. The final plan must incorporate feedback and focus on people-focused wins that restore pride and unlock potential.

For those of us who have lived here all our lives, the waterfront’s revival is non-negotiable. Creating vibrant, beneficial spaces that support existing traders and attract visitors will drive footfall, generate jobs, improve quality of life, and reconnect the high street with the seafront as one powerful destination. Kirkcaldy deserves a waterfront that finally comes alive—for traders, visitors and every resident.

This is the change we must demand, and as your MSP, I would be committed to fighting for it.

Youn can contact Heather at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.