VOTERS are failing to connect with the Liberal Democrats because the party's message has become blurred and does not set the agenda, senior MSP Ross Finnie said today.
The former rural affairs minister conceded that his party had made little progress despite a "fatally wounded" UK Labour Government and "broken promises" by the SNP at Holyrood.
The Lib Dems at Westminster were pushed into fourth place behind the
Tories, seeing their vote fall to 915 votes in the Glasgow East by-election.
Mr Finnie made the comments as he launched his campaign for the Scottish Liberal Democrats' leadership following Nicol Stephen's departure earlier this month.
He said: "Our message somehow has become blurred, lacking a distinctive Liberal Democrat edge.
"
The 61-year-old said he would turn fortunes around by concentrating on individual freedoms, building a healthier society, free of poverty and deprivation.
"My concern, however, is that, against the background of a fatally wounded New Labour Government, a SNP Government failing to deliver on key promises and the Conservatives showing little sign of a Cameron bounce, the Liberal Democrats are not making progress in electoral terms," Mr Finnie said.
"The party has made a number of effective attacks on the SNP Government but we have failed to connect with the voters as to why they should turn to the Liberal Democrats."
Former transport minister Tavish Scott and West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles are also in the running.
Mr Finnie insisted he alone could bring a coherent message that would set the party apart from its rivals.
Dunfermline West MSP Jim Tolson offered his support at the launch in Glasgow.
"By a long way, he is head and shoulders above the others," said Mr Tolson.
Ballots will be sent to party members next week before hustings take place across the country.
The leadership candidates will be at Edinburgh and Glasgow on August 9 and Inverness and Aberdeen on August 16.
The deadline for ballots is August 26 when the winner is due to be announced.
The full article contains 344 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
