Rennie: Lib Dems new saviours of Union
WILLIE Rennie has claimed that the Liberal Democrats are the new home of moderate Unionism as the Tories prepare to appoint their third leader in a year.
Mr Rennie, the only pro-UK party leader from the 2014 campaign still in post, has made a direct pitch to voters to help fight off the threat of another independence referendum.
With the resignation last week of Jackson Carlaw, Ruth Davidson’s successor as Scottish Tory leader, Mr Rennie believes that the Lib Dems’ time has come.
And he does not fear that the seemingly imminent appointment of Douglas Ross MP as the Conservatives’ new leader – or the return of Ms Davidson to representing the party at First Minister’s Questions – will change that.
Mr Rennie said: ‘Bit by bit, the Ruth Davidson project is gradually diminishing. This is an attempt to resurrect it in some form, but it’s going to be difficult because Douglas is not Ruth.
‘The moderate people she was always effective at pulling in, they are repelled by Boris Johnson – I’m not sure Douglas will be able to resurrect that. They’ll be looking for a new home.’ Mr Rennie insisted that his record at the Scottish and Brexit referendums, and of his party at Holyrood, will stand the Lib Dems in good stead.
He said: ‘I’ve been through all of those campaigns – thick and thin, difficult stuff, highs and lows – and the experience I’ve gained from all that is invaluable.
‘We were rock solid on issues like EU membership, childcare, mental health, and we’ve been the best scrutinisers of the SNP Government on things like the Spanish quarantine.
‘If people are looking for a new home because they are not confident of the Ruth project continuing, then we are it.’