A FORMER Dunfermline councillor who announced he had been shortlisted for Labour's next general election campaign has been blocked from standing.

Garry Haldane, who previously represented the Dunfermline Central ward, said on his Facebook last month that he had been put up as a possible candidate.

In a post on Facebook, he said: “It is with great pride that I can announce that I have been shortlisted for the Labour Party in the Westminster Parliament selection process to stand in the twinned constituencies for Dunfermline and West Fife/Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.

“The hustings will take place on April 19 and shortly afterwards the result will be announced.

“I would like to wish all the successful candidates good luck.”

However, a Scottish Labour spokesperson has now stated: "Mr Haldane will not be a Scottish Labour candidate at the election.”

Prior to his election to Fife Council in 2017, investigations were launched by the Labour Party after posts were highlighted on Mr Haldane's Facebook page as being sexist and racist.

One of them read: “25 per cent of the women in this country are on medication for mental illness. It means 75 per cent are running around untreated.”

At the time, Mr Haldane had been in line for £1000 from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) political fund but this was suspended.

Another post claimed refugees were being housed at the expense of ex-servicemen.

Another post made on Mr Haldane’s Facebook showed an image of a poppy and some soldiers with the caption: “They fought to keep Britain British!”

At the time of the investigation, a Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “Scottish Labour has a zero tolerance approach towards sexism and racism.”

Mr Haldane has not responded to the Press' request for a comment.