Lib Dem leadership candidate Willie Rennie vows to stand up to SNP

Published on Friday 13 May 2011 13:35

WILLIE Rennie, who was elected to the Scottish Parliament for the first time last week, has confirmed his bid to become leader of the Liberal Democrats at Holyrood.

• Willie Rennie with Tavish Scott at Holyrood this week

Nominations for the position do not close until Tuesday, but Mr Rennie is a firm favourite for the position left vacant after Tavish Scott's resignation last weekend.

Mr Rennie, who was elected on the Mid Scotland and Fife regional list in last week's election, has confirmed his intention to put himself forward for the role.

Shetland Islands MSP Mr Scott's decision to quit as leader followed the results of the elections which saw the number of Lib Dem MSPs drop from 16 to just five.

• The Steamie: Lib Dem blogger Caron Lindsay on Willie Rennie

Mr Rennie told Radio Forth he will "stand up against the bulldozer SNP administration", adding: "The Liberal Democrats with me at the helm will make sure that liberal values are heard loud and clear."

He conceded that the Scottish election result was bad and said he has "respect" for the party's UK leader, Nick Clegg.

Mr Rennie said: "It was bad, it was the worst election that I've seen for many, many years.

"People were angry, they were furious with the decisions that we had made at Westminster, and we have lost their trust.

"It's important for me that we try to rebuild that trust and reconnect.

"We've had difficult elections in the past. I remember during the Dunfermline by-election, everybody wrote us off, but we came back and we won.

"I know we can do it because Liberal Democrat values are very important to Scottish people."

Speaking about his UK leader, Mr Rennie said: "I've got great respect for Nick Clegg and what he's trying to do in government.

"I just want him to be a wee bit more open about it and tell people what he's fighting for, and I'll be there right with him making sure he does that."

Mr Rennie was MP for Dunfermline and West Fife between 2006 and 2010 before losing the seat to Labour in last year's general election.

He has also served as chief executive of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and was the party's chief of staff at the Scottish Parliament between 1997 and 2001.

When at Westminster, he was a member of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, shadow defence minister and chairman of the Lib Dems' campaigns and communications committee.