UPDATE – I have been informed by the Scottish Director of Campaigns, Andy Reeves, that Charles Kennedy is not eliblge as he is not an MSP. Which is really disappointing and I wonder why we have different rules than the SNP?
Anyway, I think that since Charles can’t stand then the party could really use the energy and passion of Willie Rennie right now.
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Dear Charles
Like all of us involved with the Scottish Liberal Democrats I am sure that you are hurting from the election result on Thursday. To have so many of those who had previously supported us opt to vote for another party in such high numbers is devastating. We need to get back on our feet quickly, with confidence and real hope for the future.
I think that you can help with that. In fact, I think you can lead us in that. As you know Tavish has resigned as Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and I think that you should replace him as leader. Obviously you are not a Member of the Scottish Parliament but there is a clear precedent for this. In 2004 Alex Salmond was elected the leader of the SNP whilst an MP at Westminster and did not return to the Scottish Parliament until 2007. Granted he did that for 3 years and I am asking you to consider doing it for 5 years, However, we have to realise that with only 5 MSPs facing a Scottish Government with a commanding majority there is little that the MSP group can do when it comes to directly opposing this new Scottish Government. It is akin to the SNP MPs in Westminster.
If you were to lead us from outside the Scottish Parliament for the next 5 years it would allow the Scottish Liberal Democrat Party to develop a new purpose and identity that has been exposed in this election as lacking in depth and variance from the Liberal Democrats in Westminster. I am in favour of the Coalition and felt that it was the right thing to do at the time and is delivering on Liberal Democrat manifesto commitments. That said, it is clear that the we have not been able to communicate a separate vision for the Scottish Parliament and Scotland that the voters were able to hear at this election.
Inside the Scottish Parliament, having you as Party Leader (with all the associated Party bureaucracy, meetings and media work that a Leader needs to do) would allow all 5 of our MSPs to concentrate more on being effective parliamentarians holding the SNP to account and offering considered and thoughtful opposition when required.
With the next General Election on 2015 and the Scottish Parliament Elections a year later, you would have a full 12 months focussing exclusively on the 2016 election campaign and would avoid the problem Alex Salmond had of receiving a salary from two Parliaments.
Finally, you would need someone in the Scottish Parliament to take a lead on holding the First Minister to account each week during FMQs and I would recommend Willie Rennie for this task. I used to live in his Fife constituency when he was an MP and he has a tremendous level of energy and a keen intellect.
I hope that you look favourably on this idea as I am sure that many in Scotland would welcome you as Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
Yours sincerely
Douglas