Reform UK has suspended one of its election candidates less than 24 hours after he was unveiled.

Party chiefs have launched an investigation into claims Stuart Niven diverted thousands of pounds from a taxpayer-backed Covid loan into his personal account.

He is also disqualified as a company director until 2033.

Niven was only announced as one of Reform’s candidate at the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections on Thursday.

Nigel Farage joined Lord Offord, the party’s leader in Scotland, at the event, which also saw the launch of Reform’s election manifesto.

A spokesperson from Reform UK Scotland said: “We take allegations like this very seriously, and a full investigation is underway.”

It has also been reported that a Reform candidate in Fife said former SNP first minister Humza Yousaf was “not British”.

And the party’s candidate in Galloway and West Dumfries, Senga Beresford, has previously given her support to far-right agitator Tommy Robinson.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “Reform Scotland’s campaign has immediately been exposed as the farce that it is.

“From the dodgy dealings of a Covid scammer to the divisive tweets of obsessive racists, these scandals show Reform are just taking whoever they can get.

“Reform is treating Scots with contempt by asking them to vote for this hopeless gaggle of Tory rejects and odd balls, and I have no doubt Scotland will send them packing.

“The spineless Lord Offord has only suspended one candidate and effectively given the green light to the fringe views of the rest of these candidates.”