Thomas Docherty will be the first former Scottish Labour MP to make a bid to return to frontline politics, The Courier can reveal.
The former Dunfermline and West Fife representative at Westminster will stand for a place on the regional list as he seeks election to Holyrood next May.
Mr Docherty is staying local by placing himself on the Mid Scotland and Fife selection grouping and has vowed to make jobs and infrastructure in the area a top priority during his campaign.
He said: “If anyone had said five or 10 years ago that Tullis Russell and Longannet were going to be finishing you would have been shocked so it is about trying to replace these industries.
“Financial services is the biggest single employer in the region and we have to look to grow that. It’s about protecting and growing industries like that and defence. What happens to the yard in Rosyth once the carrier contract is finished?
“I hadn’t planned to stand when I was defeated in the general election in May but over the last few weeks lots of party members have been very encouraging so I decided I was going to put my name forward locally.”
With Dr Richard Simpson retiring at the election, there is a vacant space for a top male candidate on the Mid Scotland and Fife list for Labour.
Kezia Dugdale has spoken of her desire to freshen up her team at Holyrood, whilst commentators have been critical of some of the “dross” which exists amongst the MSP group.
There has been speculation that former Scottish Labour deputy leader, Anas Sarwar, will stand for the Glasgow list whilst Martin McCluskey, an advisor to shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, is a candidate in the West of Scotland.
And Mr Docherty believes his experience in the House of Commons will be a major advantage when it comes to scrutinising the Scottish Government.
“I believe I have the ability to perform in the chamber and scrutinise the Scottish Government whilst I also have a record of working hard for jobs when I was MP for West Fife and the wider region,” he said.
“I have experience in procedure, parliamentary privilege and, with the powers coming through Smith, I feel I can make a big contribution.
“Tricia Marwick (Holyrood’s presiding officer) has been saying for some time the committees need to be strengthened. I’m not saying Westminster gets everything right but, while the Scottish Parliament was innovative when it was first established, it has fallen behind Westminster.”
Any potential election would also bring back a footballing balance to the Scottish Parliament’s benches when it comes to backing Dunfermline FC.
He added: “You have Ruth Davidson for the Tories and Bruce Crawford for the SNP so it is about time there was a Labour Pars fan back at Holyrood.”