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Tavish Scott voted in as new Scottish Lib Dem leader



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Published Date: 26 August 2008
TAVISH Scott was today chosen by Scottish Liberal Democrats to be their new leader.
He emerged the victor of a three-way leadership contest whose result was announced today in Edinburgh.

Mr Scott secured 59% of the vote when the result was announced by the party today in Edinburgh, comfortably outpacing rivals Ross Finnie and Mike Rumbles.

The post fell vacant when Nicol Stephen stood down last month for family reasons.

Mr Scott's victory came on first-preference votes.

The 59% margin easily surpassed the requirement that to win outright, the successful candidate had to achieve 50% of the votes plus one.

He said: "Can I thank the party for this, the gold medal of the Liberal Democrats Olympics."

The result was announced at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh in front of an audience of MPs, MSPs and party activists.

Ross Finnie achieved 23.1% of the vote, and Mike Rumbles 17.9%.
In numbers, Mr Scott secured 1,450 votes to Mr Finnie's 568 and Mr Rumbles's 439.

UK Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "I am delighted that Tavish Scott has been chosen as the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

"He will bring energy and enthusiasm to the role, taking the fight to the SNP and Labour right across Scotland.

"The Liberal Democrats are the only party who represent all of Scotland, urban and rural, east and west, Highland, island and lowland."

Mr Clegg went on: "Tavish will address the issues that matter most to the people of Scotland, not the narrow-minded squabbles of the Nationalists and Labour."

But Scottish Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser offered Mr Scott barbed congratulations.

"We congratulate Tavish on his election as the Lib Dem leader," he said.

"He will have a tough job as he takes over the reins of Scotland's fourth party, especially since Scottish politics is now a three-horse race."

The full article contains 323 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 26 August 2008 3:49 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Liberal Democrats
 
1

morris,

edinburgh 26/08/2008 15:30:51
My honest opinion, he would not have been/ is not my choice,..............but he may mature quickly of course.
He should certainly NOT listen to his predecessor who I suspect would have been removed whether he liked it or not after his total disaster around Aberdeenshire.

This is of little consequence of course,and the internal affairs of the Lib Dems are not my concern other than express an opinion.
I would have liked to have seen Mike Rumbles have a go.He struck me as the one I knew least about,but still beat the other two hands down on what I have seen of him.I suspect that Joe Publics perception would also have been favouring MR.
Anyway its the Viking so lets see how he plays darts!
2

Rev. S. Campbell,

Bath 26/08/2008 15:31:43
One word: suicide.
3

Am Balach,

Isle of Skye 26/08/2008 15:37:53
I can't belive this. What a disaster for the LibDems. I agree no2. Political suicide.
4

AJ Fife,

26/08/2008 15:41:15
Should be a laugh....if nothing else! :)
5

Oldnat,

26/08/2008 15:41:41
Almost 40% of their membership couldn't get interested enough to vote. Like the rest of us I think. rumbles would have been more interesting, and might actually have argued the Federal case. Scott is simply another unionist. Anybody got any idea what this lot are for, without the Federal argument?
6

Alan B,

26/08/2008 15:52:36
At the last election the lib dems did not want any part of government and the power that goes with it.

With this vote they do not seem to want any msps either. Could really see them going the way of the ssp now.
7

slap-dash,

Holding My End Up 26/08/2008 15:58:01
Best comment on the herald site about 10 mins ago



"a Nation shrugs"

Says it all really
8

The Falcon,

Above and watching 26/08/2008 16:00:21
This clown actually only managed to secure 36% of the total potential vote.
1,571 members declined to vote ( being 39% of the total potential vote ).

This surely speaks volumes, and in an outcome when the
"winning" percentage vote is less than the non-voting percentage,there should be a re-run of the contest.

If his history and handling of the Aberdeen Transport System is anything to go by...........sorry guys.

Come on Alex, get stuck in to another incompetent LD
9

Foresight,

By the Water of Leith 26/08/2008 16:03:08

......a lost sheep following a lost cause !!
10

G.Campbell,

Edinburgh 26/08/2008 16:04:47
He said: "Can I thank the party for this, the gold medal of the Liberal Democrats Olympics."

The Liberal Democrat Special Olympics, more like.
11

Kick the pig party,

26/08/2008 16:12:35
Tavish loathes the SNP. He's still very bitter at the loss of his ministerial mondeo.
The FM won't even need to try to squash him.
Tavish will be hilarious.
12

G,

dundy 26/08/2008 16:36:07
Best choice amongst a bad lot...he is so poor he could be aminister in the current govt...Sorry that's a step too far.....
13

morris,

edinburgh 26/08/2008 16:38:12
What really worries me is that the number who did not vote at all exceeds the total of the winner!

I acknowledge the contribution of
5 Oldnat,26/08/2008 15:41:41
in this respect



How can any party expect to be taken seriously when their own activists DONT VOTE and so much depends upon it?

Liberal Democracy means 1 man 1 abstention!

Go back to your constituencies and prepare for oblivion!

"He will have a tough job as he takes over the reins of Scotland's fourth party, especially since Scottish politics is now a three-horse race."

Murdo Fraser certainly deserves a pat on the back for that one!I doubt that the Tories will achieve much in Scotland other than take the Lib Dem vote away,but at least they are not dead,where the Lib Dems are an endangered species North of the Rio Tweed now!
14

morris,

edinburgh 26/08/2008 16:41:38
13 cont

I should also acknowledge No 8

Sorry

Falcon has made this very point and with the stats!

Well done!
15

Yeah1,

26/08/2008 16:47:35
#8

"This clown actually only managed to secure 36% of the total potential vote.
1,571 members declined to vote ( being 39% of the total potential vote )."

He still managed to get far more of the potential vote than the SNP at the 2007 election - only 17% of the total electorate voted for them.

If he is a clown for getting 36% of the potential vote, what does that make the SNP for getting 17%?
16

Alastair the First,

26/08/2008 16:55:58
The Scottish Government, Mr Yeah. That's what it makes them.

GIRUY.
17

The Spook in Leith,

26/08/2008 16:56:50
One word springs to mind..

Riveting!!!!!!
18

Oldnat,

26/08/2008 16:59:32
#15 You must be really thick. This was a poll of party members.
19

Micropacer,

26/08/2008 17:08:25
I dont really care that much about the Lib Dems - I have voted for them in the past but they appear to have completely lost their way.

Having Scott as their leader means atleast I now feel something for the Lib Dems again - hate!

Tavish Scott is an idiot. I saw Rumbles on the TV and he came across well unlike Scott who appears angry and bitter the whole time.
20

John south of Soutra,

26/08/2008 17:09:58
I had forgotten that they were having a leadership contest, just shows how high profile they are
21

"Hoots" Fandango,

26/08/2008 17:10:35
15 Yeah mean naw

After you ridiculous post that shows you know nothing, it's time you changed your moniker again.

Foolish boy.
22

1745,

Edinburgh 26/08/2008 17:11:23
So still against a referendum then !
23

morris,

edinburgh 26/08/2008 17:27:32
22
1745,
Edinburgh 26/08/2008 17:11:23

It would appear so. (Nothing new or liberal or democratic there then)

A referendum is by definition the highest level of democratic accountability possible, because it decides a particular issue (for the moment)but not in perpetuity of course,on the basis that the majority held view shall prevail.

This is both desirable for all who believe in democratic accountability, irrespective of outcome.

We are as you are no doubt aware back to the same square as Nicolarse, who said

"I know of no party in history which has supported the use of a referendum,unless they knew the outcome in advance,and agreed with it".

Anything else MUST be therefore a dilution of that democratic process.

NOT LIBERAL NOT DEMOCRAT NOT WORTHY

24

a proud doonhamer,

Dumfries 26/08/2008 17:50:09
The LibDem membership has spoken and the results are

Mike Rumbles 439
Ross Finnie 568
Tavish Scott 1,450

and

NONE OF THE ABOVE 1,571

You couldn't make this up.
25

Yeah1,

26/08/2008 17:54:15
#18 & 21

"You must be really thick. This was a poll of party members."

"After you ridiculous post that shows you know nothing, it's time you changed your moniker again."

How does my post my post show I know nothing? The poster I was responding to was criticising Tavish Scott for only getting 36% of the potential vote, so I was merely pointing out that the SNP only got 17% of the potential vote in the 2007 election.

Of course the two votes are not really comparable, one being a vote of party membership and the other a vote for the Scottish Parliament, but nonetheless the fact still stands - how can you criticise Scott for getting 36% of the potential vote in one election whilst your own party only got 17% of the potential vote in the Scottish Parliament election?
26

Resolutions,

26/08/2008 17:55:26
Inclined to agree that 'political suicide' is maybe being polite! A contest which inspires so few activists, or at least card-carrying members is rather suspect - why? Are they a bit disillusioned?
The guy does not seem to have any grasp of things - when a red pen is slashed across a map with no reference to the costly work done before, as he did with Aberdeen's so-called by-pass, it does not inspire confidence in his abilities. Cannot but wonder, if the NE LibDems have lost faith, but do not know where to run.
When does Holyrood resume? Next week? Well not long to wait for the first 'show' then.
27

"Hoots" Fandango,

26/08/2008 18:02:50
25

Because you are an arsehole?
28

j fortitude ,

26/08/2008 18:05:11
It is a bit rich to question his mandate based on 36% of potential vote whilst upholding the mandate of a minority government who won on 17% of the potential vote
29

MacGillicuddy,

26/08/2008 18:14:22
Yawn, yawn. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
30

Yeah1,

26/08/2008 18:22:43
#28

"Because you are an arsehole?"

Er...yeah great comeback. Really insightful and thorough argument against my points...

Is that the best you can come up with? Utterly embarassing.

Responding with a pathetic post like that makes me think that it is actually you who 'know nothing' and is a 'foolish boy'.
31

Yeah1,

26/08/2008 18:23:43
#30

"Yawn, yawn. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

Yeah such a boring story that you felt inclined to read and then make a comment on it, surely if it's that boring you wouldn't have wasted your time doing either?
32

Wisnaeme,

26/08/2008 18:30:17

I,571 couldn't be @rsed, eh. Or was that 1,571 voluntary disenfranchised themselves.

I wonder who many of them will turn to for enlightenment?
Labour perhaps? Naw, too right wing an agenda.
True blue Tory then? Naw, same applies.

What about a political party that has an extraordinary similarity to the FibDems by way of many of their policies?
Naw, couldn't be them; could it?
Oh dear, have you got your oar and lifebelt handy Tavish?

Aye, Tavish likes continuity and continuity it will be as FibDem support continues to ebb away.

One man, his dog and the cat's mither could see the 'lift' Mike Rumbles would have given them. Apparently the blind leading the blind couldn't.

That's it then, Bye bye Glenrothes as far as FibDem aspirations are concerned.

Still, at least Tavish can inherit Nicol's hot line from London HQ.
.
33

Yeah1,

26/08/2008 18:37:59
#33

"I,571 couldn't be @rsed, eh. Or was that 1,571 voluntary disenfranchised themselves."

Its nothing to particularly crow about, I mean 1,372 SNP members didn't bother to vote in the 2004 SNP leadership election either, not that much less really...
34

It's life but not as we know it,

The oort Clouds 26/08/2008 18:45:19
This is the first press story I have actually fallen asleep while reading it for a long time. Does anybody care who the leader of the Scottish LibDems is?
35

a proud doonhamer,

Dumfries 26/08/2008 18:48:56
34

Lad, when more members choose not to vote rather than vote for your new Leader, no amount of spin can control the damage.

Either they hated the choices or have already deserted the party!
36

Wisnaeme,

26/08/2008 18:57:01

YeHa.

2004, Eh?

Hang oan, Ah'll hae tae use ma fingers. Wan, twa, tree, foar. Aye, whaur ye been, yon wis foar years by.

...an whits happened since, do tell.
.
37

Hal Jordan,

Edinburgh 26/08/2008 18:58:36
Good to see that the quality of comment meets the usual low standard.
38

Yeah1,

26/08/2008 19:03:38
#36

"Lad, when more members choose not to vote rather than vote for your new Leader, no amount of spin can control the damage."

Not sure why you assume that I'm a 'lad', or why you assume that he is my new leader? I haven't expressed anywhere that I am a lib dem member, or even supporter.

I was merely pointing out that whilst 1,571 lib dem members didn't vote in the leadership election, there were also 1,372 SNP members who didn't vote in their most recent leadership election.

39

Yeah1,

26/08/2008 19:04:39
#37

er...right. So because it was 4 years ago it doesn't count? Very strange logic...

2004 was the last time the SNP held a leadership election so they are the most recent statistics available to compare with the lib dem leadership election.

What has happened since then? Well the SNP got 17% of the total available vote in 2007...
40

muppetfinder,

26/08/2008 19:09:05
three horse race eh no one horse three donkeys

Libs have a total of 4000 members is that Scotland, UK
41

Richard Taylor,

Aberdeen 26/08/2008 19:11:15
The Libdums have a new leader??

A certain Who song springs to mind..................
42

wattie>x 1,

PLYMOUTH 26/08/2008 19:19:19
LIB_DEMS? Who are they?
Pinkie Tories, or , just a comical party who enjoy a tittle - tattle now and again ! Was this not the Party who locked up women (with much cruelty) for demanding their basic right to do what men were already allowed; too go to a polling booth and cast a vote for the person they thought would be best suited to look after their interests ?
I forgot; we never done no such things in our free and democratic UTOPIA ! SORRY!
43

Embra Don,

26/08/2008 19:38:47
Yeah 1

You might think that, as there are only (still?) 4,000 members left, they would be motivated to vote in an election which may be critical to the party's survival.

The party I used to support were federalists. Did the membership vote to change to being unionist? Was it imposed by the grey men now in charge? Does anyone care?
Apart from a vague feeling of missed disappointment opportunities - I don't any more.
44

The Former Mr. Angry,

Perth 26/08/2008 19:39:33
Mike Rumbles was the only one of them that could muster a cogent argument and had the potential to stand up to Alex Salmond. But naturally being the part of feeble nothingness and overall failure they voted for eternal doom! I still ask myself what are they here for? Been asking that for decades!
45

MacGillicuddy,

26/08/2008 20:35:01
Yeah1 - unintelligible posts passim

Yawn, yawn, Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
46

Nikostratos,

26/08/2008 20:42:19
#36


The problem with the Nationalists is they are used to rigging their elections with 99.9% voting for the leader. And cant quiet get their head around the notion of democracy which does allow a free vote or not to vote.

Not so long ago they was bleating about Westminster imposing a rule 40% of the electorate should vote "Yes" in 1978.

so does there new version of democracy hold for a Independence referendum.If more dont vote than those who do cast a vote then the outcome is invalid
47

Kiltie74,

Fife 26/08/2008 20:42:22
Well congratulations to Tavish, he secured a better majority than many expected.

Now the Lib Dems (both in and out with Holyrood) need to refocus and see if they can produce a real challenge to 'Silly Salmond' and his motley crew as well as those Labourites still seeking to secure a Scottish leader with some semblance of credibility!
48

MacGillicuddy,

26/08/2008 20:58:27
#48
You are obviously in cloud cuckoo land
49

chico y,

26/08/2008 20:59:27
UK Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "I am delighted that Tavish Scott has been chosen as the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats".And Alex Salmond will be saying the same.

He's another bland Nicol Stephen clone All we need now is for Gray to win the liebour position. The only half decent opposition are the tories. As the "A team would say, "I love it when a plan comes together"
50

JayDeeTee,

26/08/2008 21:29:46
#48. Have you been at Charles Kennedy's booze cupboard? The Fib Dems are an impotent bunch of third raters. This appointment only backs this up. What a bunch or sit on the fence jokers.
51

Alec M,

Falkirk 26/08/2008 21:36:21
I caught Tavish McScott on a UK-wide, London-based TV news channel. HE HAD A WHOLE 20-SECOND SLOT, during which he spoke of joining in victory the her-oes (and probably the his-oes) just returned from China.

Tea anyone?
52

Weegiewarbler,

Afloatinaboat 26/08/2008 22:07:01
Quibbling about SNP leadership voting numbers?
To quote Mrs IPKnightly from elsewhere:

"There were 6551 votes cast representing a turnout of 79.23%
Of these, 15 were spoiled papers, leaving 6536 valid votes cast. The quota for election on the first ballot is therefore 3268 votes.

On the first Ballot, the results were as follows:

Fergus Ewing MSP 1605 votes 24.56%

Christine Grahame MSP 1410 votes 21.57%

Nicola Sturgeon MSP 3521 votes 53.87%

Having achieved over the required 50% quota, I can therefore declare that Nicola Sturgeon has been elected to serve as the new Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party

Here are the results of the election for Leader.

There were 6564 votes cast representing a turnout of 79.39%
Of these, 28 were spoiled papers, leaving 6536 valid votes cast. The quota for election on the first ballot is therefore 3268 votes.

On the first Ballot, the results were as follows:

Roseanna Cunningham MSP 953 votes,14.58%

Michael Russell 631 votes 9.65%

Alex Salmond MP 4952 votes 75.76%

Having achieved over the required 50% quota, I can therefore declare that Alex Salmond has been elected to serve as the new Leader of the Scottish National Party"

79% plus.... now that's a voting turnout... that's from people who are bothered about who takes the reigns...
Just saying....
53

Weegiewarbler,

Afloat in a boat 26/08/2008 22:11:29
#47
Grammar, grammar...
"was bleating".... WERE bleating.
"a Independence".... AN Independence.
Pay attention.

As long as the goal posts aren't moved around following the vote like the last time... and it was Westminster that did all the shifting... that's all anyone can ask.
54

Conan the Librarian™,

26/08/2008 22:24:31
47
Niko...Niko:-(

The medication WILL have to be increased.
55

danielrober,

26/08/2008 22:26:03
I welcome this new leader. I will pay to God that he can bing decency back to Holyrod.
56

Darien,

Panama 26/08/2008 22:55:15
#56 said "I welcome this new leader. I will pay to God that he can bing decency back to Holyrod."

You will need to 'pray' to an even higher authority than God if you want decency at Holyrood (not 'Holyrod').
Its irrelevent who the FibDums Scottish region leader is - they are finished as even Murdo Fraser implies. Can't quite figure out why the Shetland folks vote for Tavish though - has the Grimmond legacy not dissipated yet in the Northern Isles? Bring it on.
57

psycho,

edinbra 26/08/2008 23:11:56
We now await the next piece of good news from the Labour party when couthy Cathy is selected
These are fine times for the SNP
58

danielrober,

26/08/2008 23:12:25
# 57 Darien,Panama

So what's your mates policy on Europe then. What's Alec.S, actually going to talk to the other European leaders about? How mighty he is - where's the SNP policy on Europe. You know EUROPE, our largest trading partner.
59

Montford's Jaicket,

Hanging around 26/08/2008 23:15:51
#42... Would that be "Who are you?" - perhaps more appropriate would be the Beatles "Nowhere Man" or even Talking Heads "Road to Nowhere"
60

morris,

edinburgh 26/08/2008 23:44:51
24
a proud doonhamer,
Dumfries 26/08/2008 17:50:09

That is surely the pertinent point here !

There are more activists who either
a) Couldn't care less who the leader is
or
b) Couldnt bring themselves to back any of them.

Irrespective of which is greater we are witnessing a party here whose activists are not motivated enough to care!

You cannot take a party seriously on this showing on anything.
I always did wonder what the election of Willie Rennie was aupposed to achieve anyway?
Did the SRU know they were in Murrayfield?

I forecast a total Lib Dem wipeout at Glenrothes.
61

,

26/08/2008 23:56:17
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