AN SNP candidate in the next General Election has withdrawn his intention to stand.
Brian Goodall, who was selected to run to become the MP for the new Dunfermline and Dollar constituency, confirmed to The National that he would no longer be standing for election.
The SNP councillor was among eight people announced as candidates for the party in late October. Former MP Stephen Gethins and SNP policy convener Toni Giugliano were also on the list.
But on Wednesday, journalist Michael Crick first reported that Goodall had withdrawn his nomination for health reasons.
Crick further reported that Goodall had told local SNP members: "It’s clear to me that after a few weeks in the role that the energy required to try to pull together a campaign that’s ready to go full tilt in the new year would cause an undue amount of stress on my health.
“It’s therefore better that, rather than selfishly plough on and put an SNP victory in this seat at risk, I step aside now and give someone else the chance to put that winning campaign together."
Asked if the report was accurate, Goodall confirmed that it was.
He said in a brief statement: “Yes I’ve stepped back from this role [General Election candidate] but I’ve already said to local members all I intend saying. Thanks.”
Goodall is a councillor for the Rosyth ward on Fife Council, a position he won in the 2022 local elections.
A General Election is expected at some point in 2024, with suggestions after the Autumn Statement from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt that the Tories might be looking to a spring vote, rather than waiting till autumn.
