Alistair Carmichael will act as interim leader (Aaron Chown/PA)
Nominations for the next leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats have formally opened, more than a week after Willie Rennie announced he was stepping down.
Mr Rennie, known for his eye-catching photocalls as well as his championing of mental health care, is stepping down after a decade in the job.
His decision comes after the Liberal Democrats saw their number of MSPs reduced further at May’s Holyrood elections, with the party winning just four seats.
Willie Rennie campaigning in the run-up to May’s Holyrood election, in which his party returned just four MSPs (Jane Barlow/PA)
Willie Rennie stepped down after a decade in charge of the party in Scotland. One of his fellow Holyrood party colleagues will take on the role as the current party rules stipulate it must be an MSP that leads the party. The nomination period will be open until Friday 20th August. Candidates must get 10% support from the Scottish Parliamentary party and are also required to obtain the support of 30 ordinary members from more than 5 local parties. Alistair Carmichael MP, Scottish deputy leader, will be the party’s interim leader until a successor is elected.
Party convenor Sheila Ritchie said: “Willie Rennie has been a fantastic leader for the past ten years. I know all of our members will join with me in thanking him for his hard work, dedication, and patience.
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ORKNEY and Shetland MSP Alistair Carmichael will oversee the Scottish Liberal Democrats while the party picks its new leader.
Nominations for the role opened today (Tuesday) following the resignation of Willie Rennie, who had been in the job since 2011.
Nominations close on 20 August, and during this time Carmichael will act as interim Scottish leader.
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He is Scottish deputy leader within the party.
As well as requiring 10 per cent support from the Scottish parliamentary party, nominees are also required to obtain the support of 30 ordinary members from more than five local parties.
Aside from Rennie the Lib Dems only have three MSPs in the Scottish Parliament – Shetland’s Beatrice Wishart, Orkney’s Liam McArthur and Alex Cole-Hamilton, who represents the Edinburgh Western constituency.
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