Scottish Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2011
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Scottish Liberal Democrats leadership election was triggered by the resignation of party leader Tavish Scott
on 7 May 2011, due to the very poor showing of the party at the 2011 Scottish parliament election, in which the Liberal Democrats only returned 5 MSPs and lost 12.
Nominations for party leader closed on 17 May 2011, and with William Rennie
the only declared candidate, he was elected to the position unnopposed.
, Liam McArthur
and Alison McInnes
and Tavish Scott, the former party leader. Although Liam McArthur was mentioned as a possible contender, most media believed that it was unlikely that another candidate would stand due to the small size of the party making a leadership contest and ballot undesirable, as turned out to be the case.
Tavish Scott
Tavish Hamilton Scott MSP is a Scottish politician and MSP for Shetland. He was Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2008 to 2011...
on 7 May 2011, due to the very poor showing of the party at the 2011 Scottish parliament election, in which the Liberal Democrats only returned 5 MSPs and lost 12.
Nominations for party leader closed on 17 May 2011, and with William Rennie
William Rennie
Lieutenant-Colonel William Rennie VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
the only declared candidate, he was elected to the position unnopposed.
Declared Candidates
- Willie RennieWillie RennieWilliam Cowan Rennie MSP is a Scottish politician and current Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.After college, Rennie spent most of his early career as a Liberal Democrat campaigner and official before working as a public relations consultant in the private sector...
- MSP for the Mid Scotland & Fife RegionMid Scotland and Fife (Scottish Parliament electoral region)Mid Scotland and Fife is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
, Former MP for Dunfermline & West FifeDunfermline and West Fife (UK Parliament constituency)Dunfermline and West Fife is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was created for the 2005 general election from all of the old Dunfermline West and parts of the old Dunfermline East constituencies...
(2006–10)
Suggested Candidates
There are only four other Scottish Liberal Democrat MSPs currently sitting in the Scottish Parliament: Jim HumeJim Hume
Jim Hume MSP is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the South of Scotland region since 2007.-Background:...
, Liam McArthur
Liam McArthur
Liam McArthur MSP is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Orkney.-Background:He was brought up on the Orkney Island of Sanday...
and Alison McInnes
Alison McInnes
Alison McInnes MSP is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the North East Scotland Region...
and Tavish Scott, the former party leader. Although Liam McArthur was mentioned as a possible contender, most media believed that it was unlikely that another candidate would stand due to the small size of the party making a leadership contest and ballot undesirable, as turned out to be the case.