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Finnie sets off on quest for leadership



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FORMER Environment Minister Ross Finnie today launched his bid to become leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, claiming the party's message had become blurred and lacked a distinctive edge.
Mr Finnie claimed that in the current political circumstances the Lib Dems should be making more progress than they are.

And he said he wanted to focus on the themes of individual freedoms, sustainable communities and a fairer society.

The Lib Dem contest to succeed Nicol Stephen, who stepped down because of family pressures, is a three-way fight between Mr Finnie, finance spokesman Tavish Scott and backbencher Mike Rumbles. Mr Finnie said: "My concern is that against the background of a fatally wounded New Labour Government, an 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.

"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.

"Our message has become blurred and lacking a distinctive Liberal Democrat edge. We lack a political narrative that brings clarity and cohesion."





The full article contains 206 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 25 July 2008 1:13 PM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Jed Smith,

Moscow 25/07/2008 13:39:32

The Lib Dems are weak. I'm surprised they have the ability to counteract gravity by getting out of bed in the morning.
2

I love to eat Sellotape,

25/07/2008 13:57:57
I'm surprised any of us do, really. Life can seem so crushingly empty at times.
3

Alan B,

25/07/2008 14:39:59
"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"

That is the point exactly. Stop attacking other parties and actually start being positive with a positive vision and positive policies.

Saw a parliamentary question time between Salmond and Stephen. Stephen quoted the financial times about how the snp were popular but had not really done anything, and used that as a dig against salmond. By the end of question time someone had slipped salmond the rest of the quote from the paper which said the opposition was abmismal. Salmond then taunted stephen about trying to mislead parliament.

The lib dems really have to grow up. They seem to have a soft spot for labour and where unwilling to stand up to the wendy corruption scandal.

The media kept telling us how they are the snp were so close in policy terms. Yet the lib dems seem to prefer to cosy up to a party that they are more distant to in labour.

Also why when people see the last 2 scottish governments have failed to deliver would the scottish electrate turn to the lib dems who were in government during that period.

4

Alan B,

25/07/2008 14:41:50
Quite like Finnie. But he really need to get the cutting edge of Rumbles. The lib dems really need to have a clear cut view of the constitution. Fiscal autonomy advocated by rumbles would be an excellent start. Without it they will just remain a woolly fudge.
5

Linda,

Edinburgh 25/07/2008 20:21:00
Lib Dems have no distinctive policies and refused to go into coalition with SNP so as not to upset Labour allies.
No wonder they lost their deposit in Glasgow East.
6

Nebulous,

Aberdeen 26/07/2008 09:28:27
I find it hard to bewlieve that any self-respecting Liberal can swallow the line of being a Unionist Party. Have they no knowledge of their party's history?

The refusal to agree to a referendum has cost them a lot and I'm quite happy with that. It was a petty, spiteful, personal decision. In addition their handling of the Trump situation and sleaze allegations in the North-East, which is one of their traditional heartlands, has done them a huge amount of harm.
7

Gregor Addison,

Münster 26/07/2008 12:34:41
Don't mention the F word. With Labour in dire straits and their vote shrinking dramatically you'd think the Lib Dems would assert their 'independence' from Labour and remember that for many years they have told us that they are a party who believe in Federalism. It is just possible, after all, that the only real challenge to the SNP will come from a party who embrace a fully federal devolved system throughout the UK. But for all their high-minded beliefs the Lib Dems seem unable to utter the F word. Now that they are in the process of electing a new leader, perhaps they will also discuss the merits and demerits of federalism. After all, Alex Salmond is setting out his stall on Independence. Why, then, have the Lib Dems settled to play second fiddle at Wendy's Commission?
8

McMillar,

Fife 26/07/2008 18:54:34
Yeah....whatever.

 

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