The Scottish Government has dropped an MSP from its list of proposed new junior ministers due to anti-trans comments she made on a blog.

Gillian Martin, who was slated to be minister for further education, higher education and science as part of Nicola Sturgeon's reshuffle, has apologised for the remarks.

Writing in her blog in 2007, she mocked transgender students as "hairy knuckled lipstick-wearing transitional transgender Laydees".

The future Aberdeenshire East MSP also suggested there was a "tranny trove" of EU funding for the students.

Opposition parties asked the Scottish Government to withdraw Martin's nomination, which was among a raft of nine appointments subject to parliamentary approval.

Holyrood's arithmetic means the SNP requires the support of other parties for new ministerial appointments.

Martin said in a statement the blog was "inappropriate and offensive", adding that it did not reflect her views.

She said: "I fully accept and understand the decision that the First Minister has taken.

"In a blog I wrote 11 years ago across a range of issues I used language that was inappropriate and offensive.

I reported comments from other people which have caused offence, and made statements in a way which does not represent my views then or now.

"I deleted this blog some time ago precisely because I accepted that it contained unacceptable content - but I recognise that these posts should never have been published in the first place.

"That is entirely my responsibility and I am deeply sorry.

"When parts of this blog were last raised publicly two years ago I apologised - and I unreservedly apologise today.

"Since my election as MSP for Aberdeenshire East in 2016, I have always campaigned hard for equalities and I will continue to do so."

Before her nomination was withdrawn, Scottish Labour tabled an amendment demanding her name be removed from the list of ministerial appointments.

In a statement after First Minister's Questions, Sturgeon said: "I can confirm to parliament that it is with regret that I will not be asking parliament to approve the appointment of Gillian Martin as a minister.

"Over the course of this morning, information about content on a blog written by her more than ten years ago have been brought to my attention. I was not previously aware of all of the comments that I am now aware of."

She added: "I have to say that this content, however ill-advised it may be, does not reflect the views of the person that I know in Gillian Martin.

"However, the content does merit my further consideration and I will therefore not ask parliament to approve this appointment until I've had the chance to reflect further."

Martin's blog post, which complained about political correctness in colleges, previously emerged in media reports in 2016 while she was running to be an MSP.

In it, she also said college PR staff "froth at the mouth with excitement if anyone in a wheelchair does anything that can be remotely described as an achievement".

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson tweeted earlier: "Pleased the Scottish Government have withdrawn Gillian Martin's nomination for minister.

"We spoke to them this morning to confirm this was not an appointment we could support following comments published this morning."

Leonard claimed the First Minister knew about the transphobic blog post before Martin was nominated as a minister.

He told her at FMQs: "In the end this is not just about the judgement of Gillian Martin, this is about your judgement."

In her own statement, Martin said: "In 2007 I wrote a blog that I deeply regret.

"It used language that was inappropriate and offensive.

"I expressed myself in a way that did not reflect my view then and certain does not reflect my view now.

"That is entirely my fault and I am sorry for it.

"That's why, when this blog was last raised publicly two years ago, I apologised and I am more than happy to unreservedly apologise again today."