The Scottish Government has withdrawn Gillian Martin's ministerial nomination over "inappropriate and offensive" language in a blog post.

Nicola Sturgeon named the former college lecturer as minister for further education, higher education and science in her reshuffle on Wednesday.

However on Thursday the First Minister said she would not put Ms Martin forward for the appointment until she had reflected on the "ill-advised" post, published in 2007.

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In her blog, written before she entered politics, the MSP wrote about "hairy-knuckled, lipstick-wearing transitional laydees" and 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".

Ms Martin has said she "deeply regretted" the post and "unreservedly apologised".

Opposition parties had planned to oppose her ministerial appointment in a vote at the Scottish Parliament, questioning the MSP's fitness for office.

But Ms Sturgeon said: "Over the course of this morning information about content on a blog by (Ms Martin) more than 10 years ago has been brought to my attention.

"I was not previously aware of all of the comments that I am now aware of.

"I have to say that this content, however ill-advised it may be, does not reflect the views of the person 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 have had the chance to reflect further."

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The blog post was first reported on in 2016 during the Holyrood election campaign, prompting opposition parties to question Ms Sturgeon's judgment in selecting Ms Martin for a ministerial position.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: "The First Minister knew about these comments and still proposed to put Gillian Martin in charge of further and higher education.

"In the end this is not just about the judgment of Gillian Martin, First Minister this is about your judgment, isn't it?"

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw highlighted further "shocking" comments he said were made by Ms Martin regarding American "blacks".

He also questioned Ms Sturgeon's judgment, adding: "[Ms Sturgeon] has done this job long enough.

"Thin excuses don't really cut it.

"A reshuffle a year in the making ought not now to stand as the most notorious reshuffle in the history of this Parliament."

In a statement posted on her Twitter account, Ms Martin said: “I fully accept and understand the decision that the First Minister has taken.

"In 2007 I wrote a blog that I deeply regret. It used language that was inappropriate and offensive.

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"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."

In a post on Twitter, the Scottish Trans Alliance said "we very much welcome" that all parties "have united today to make a strong statement on the unacceptability of transphobic, ablist, racist, homophobic etc language, by those who hold high office".