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Tavish Scott elected Scottish Lib Dem leader |
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Tuesday, 26 August 2008 |
Tavish Scott has been elected the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, replacing Nicol Stephen MSP.
Despite earlier predictions that it would be a close run contest; the Shetland MSP won with a convincing 59 per cent of the vote. His leadership rivals Ross Finnie and Mike Rumbles secured 23.1 and 17.9 per cent of the vote respectively. There was a turnout of 61 per cent of the 4500 strong Scottish Lib Dem membership.
Speaking at his first press conference as leader Scott attacked the SNP Government at Holyrood.
“Today I am very clear in my mind about the challenge ahead and the opportunity that this challenge presents. The tectonic plates of Scottish politics are shifting and when they stop I am determined that the Scottish Liberal Democrats will be a dominant presence on the political landscape.
“Our values of community, fairness and liberty are locked into 21st century Scotland. After less than 18 months in government, the SNP is riding high in the polls. They are popular, but here’s my prediction: by 2010 they will not be. We can already see the underlying weakness that will undo Alex Salmond. What looks confident, sure footed and wily today, will be seen as arrogant, misguided and politically dishonest. Spin is the hallmark of this government, but spin has a shelf life,” he said.
Scott also dubbed Prime Minister Gordon Brown and First Minister Alex Salmond “dither and Macdither,” and accused them of having the same “tricks and admiration for Margaret Thatcher.”
CBI Scotland’s Director, Iain McMillan was among the first to welcome the new appointment:
“CBI Scotland congratulates Tavish Scott MSP on his election as party leader in Scotland, and we look forward to working with him and his new frontbench team once it is in place.
“This is a challenging time for Scotland’s economy and it is crucial that the Lib Dems, and indeed all the other main parties at Holyrood, test their own and their opponents’ policies against a single benchmark: will this make Scotland a better place to create jobs and wealth when the economic recovery comes?”
Scottish Conservative deputy leader, Murdo Fraser said the new leader will had a tough job ahead.
He said:
“We congratulate Tavish on his election as the LibDem leader. He will have a tough job as he takes over the reins of Scotland's 4th Party, especially since Scottish politics is now a three horse race.”
Tavish Scott was born in Inverness in 1966. He was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, having previously been a member of Shetland Islands Council. He served as Deputy Minister for Parliament from 2000 to 2001; Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services and Parliamentary Business 2003-05; and Minister for Transport from 2005-07. He succeeds former leader Nicol Stephen who resigned in July citing family reasons.
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