Two heavyweights square off in Lib Dem leadership battle

Contest heats up as former ministers announce they will stand for top job

By Tim Pauling

Published:

READY FOR THE FRAY: Tavish Scott is joined by a hardy bunch of Shetland Vikings as he announces his intention to stand for the leadership

The Scottish Liberal Democrat leadership battle heated up yesterday with two former ministers throwing their hats into the ring.

West of Scotland MSP Ross Finnie and Shetland MSP Tavish Scott announced they planned to contest the post made vacant by Nicol Stephen’s unexpected resignation last week.

It pits two party heavyweights against each other in the leadership contest.

Mr Finnie, 61, was one of the longest-serving Cabinet members in the old Scottish executive.

He was appointed rural development minister by Donald Dewar in 1999, a position he held until the SNP’s victory last year.

Mr Scott, 42, served as deputy minister for parliament in the old Scottish executive from 2000-01 and returned to the front benches in 2003 as deputy finance and public services minister.

He was made transport minister in reward for masterminding Mr Stephen’s 2005 leadership campaign and ultimate elevation to deputy first minister.

Both Mr Scott and Mr Finnie announced their decisions after spending the weekend speaking to family and colleagues.

Mr Scott, who is tipped by political pundits for the job, announced his decision at Lerwick.

He said: “I want to energise our party with new thinking and a fresh approach that speaks to the needs and concerns of Scotland.”

Ordinary families are “feeling the pinch” over job concerns and the rising cost of food, fuel and housing, Mr Scott said.

“Scots are asking their government for help but their voices are being drowned out by an ever more acrimonious and pointless feud between the SNP in Edinburgh and new Labour at Westminster,” he said.

“That's not good enough. Our party must speak to Scotland’s people about those things that most concern them and not just those that most interest politicians.”

Just hours earlier, Mr Finnie revealed his intention to stand because he wanted the Lib Dems to be the “constructive alternative” to the SNP.

“I believe I have all of the qualities the party needs to be its next leader: experience, vision, sound judgment, good communication skills combined with a passion for liberal democracy,” he said.

“I want to inspire Scots to believe that, under the Liberal Democrats, they, as individuals, can realise their potential either domestically or internationally governed by a Scottish Parliament as part of the UK and I want the parliament to have more powers, particularly tax powers.”

The first person to announce he would stand in the race was West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles, who also stood against Mr Stephen in the 2005 race.