Tayside health campaigner Pat Kelly could stage a dramatic U-turn and stand against MSP Shona Robison in the race for Dundee East.
The Courier told last week how Mr Kelly decided to pull out of the race following a discussion with Dundee United legend Frank Kopel’s widow Amanda, who is from Kirriemuir.
He stepped down after Mrs Kopel indicated she did not want a candidate to stand under the Frank’s Law name fearing her late husband’s name could be “dragged down into the mud” if the political fight gets ugly.
But Mr Kelly is now considering standing independently after being approached by locals asking him to reconsider.
Mr Kelly is already a well-known health campaigner following his own high profile efforts for justice for victims of scandal-hit former Tayside surgeon Muftah Salem Eljamel.
He has been representing a group of patients who claim they were left with long-term health difficulties following surgery by Mr Eljamel.
The former Dundee DJ said: “I have been overwhelmed by the messages of support from people asking me to reconsider.
“If people wanted me to stand as an independent then I would be happy to do so but someone would need to bankroll it because the campaign would be costly.
“I would stand up on behalf of disabled people and fight for free personal care for the under 65s.
“I would also fight on the issue of employment and training issues with regards the disabled.
“Why was Frank’s Law or the Eljamel scandal never debated on the floor of the chamber?
“That’s what I want to know and I think we need a health campaigner in the chamber to ask these questions.
“If I stand as an independent list candidate then I would naturally not use Frank’s name.”
Mrs Kopel’s husband, Frank, died in April 2014 having been diagnosed with dementia in 2009, when he was aged just 59.
He and his wife paid about £300 a week so he could have personal care in his Kirriemuir home because he did not reach the qualifying age for free services until weeks before his death.
Mrs Kopel is urging ministers to close the loophole a bid The Courier is backing.
She said she is sure Mr Kelly “has all the qualities to stand as an independent candidate to help others”.