Tavish Scott resigns as Scottish Liberal Democrat leader

By James Browne Tavish Scott today announced his resignation as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Mr Scott is understood to be “devastated” by the losses suffered by his party in Thursday’s election and he has decided to take full responsibility himself by standing down. Mr Scott endured a very hard time during the campaign, having to defend the record of his party in the coalition government time and again – despite his clear discomfort in doing so. Mr Scott did distance himself from the coalition government at Westminster towards the end of the campaign – but, by then, it was too late to make much of a difference. His party, which went into the election with 16 MSPs, lost 11 of them, including all of its constituencies in mainland Scotland. It kept only Orkney and Shetland, with the other three MSPs elected through the party lists. Mr Scott is understood to be angry that he and his party north of the border have been made to suffer for the actions of a government in Westminster which he has nothing to do with. A new leader will emerge from the four other Scottish Lib Dem MSPs: Liam McArthur, Willie Rennie, Alison McInnes and Jim Hume. Although he has not been an MSP before, Mr Rennie (elected as a list MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife) is favourite to succeed Mr Scott because he has long been a key Lib Dem strategist and was an MP at Westminster before losing his seat last year. Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, is another who may well go for the leadership. But, given the small size of the parliamentary party – it could travel to Holyrood in the back of a taxi – it is not as satisfying or as powerful a post as it once was. What the leader will have to do, however, is revive the party’s fortunes north of the border – and, with the Scottish Lib Dems at their lowest ebb for two decades, that may take a great deal of work. Mr Scott said: “I want to announce that I am resigning the leadership of the Scottish Liberal Democrats with immediate effect. Thursday’s Scottish General Election result was disastrous and I must and do take responsibility for the verdict of the electorate. “The party needs a new direction, new thinking and new leadership to win back the trust of the Scottish people. I am honoured to serve as Shetland’s MSP in this Parliament.” Responding to news of Mr Scott’s departure, Alex Salmond said: “I have led campaigns that were unsuccessful in the past so I know it’s extremely difficult for leaders in that position but there’s no personal acrimony.”

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