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Scott reshuffles backroom team



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Published Date: 31 August 2008
NEWLY elected Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott today announced a reshuffle of his backroom team.
Leadership rival Mike Rumbles has been appointed chief whip, having previously been rural affairs and environment spokesman.

Ross Finnie, also a contender for the top job, remains party health spokesman.

Glasgow MSP Robert Brown becomes justice spokesman, taking over from Margaret Smith who moves to education.

But former leader Nicol Stephen will not have any shadow brief in the new team.

Mr Scott said today: "I want the Liberal Democrats to be the most effective campaigning political party in Scotland.

"That's why I am determined that we break through the Holyrood bubble and tackle the issues which matter to people in every part of Scotland.

"To make that happen each of the spokespeople I have appointed has been given an additional priority area to focus on.

"These priorities reflect the issues which are facing ordinary people across Scotland – from Shetland to Stranraer. I want the team campaigning across the country taking the Lib Dem message to the country."

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur takes over as environment and rural development spokesman with a special responsibility for tackling fuel bills.

Jeremy Purvis takes over Mr Scott's previous role as spokesman on finance and the economy.

The full article contains 212 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 31 August 2008 2:46 PM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
  • Related Topics: Liberal Democrats
 
1

Vote UKIP,

31/08/2008 14:59:13
Yawn. Does anyone really care what the Lib Dems do?

UKIP are the true opposition to the Lib-Lab-SNP-Con.
2

Vote UKIP,

31/08/2008 14:59:57
The Lib Dems are ginger and inoffensive, that's about all they have to offer!
3

Active Sassenach,

Luton, England 31/08/2008 15:46:55
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are relevant to UK politics, but, like, the English Liberal Democrats, mainly reputed for their street politics. Tavish Scott seems to be talking a good street game while actually re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.

This is a shame. Two of the greatest assets of the Lib Dems are located in Scotland. One of them, Sir Menzies Campbell, was on the Andrew Marr show with Emily Maitlis this very morning being rushed through an analysis of the Democratic National Convention when he should have been given his own one-hour show on the subject with the Lib Dems' other great Scottish asset Lord Steel of Aikwood.

Tavish Scott now has time to prepare for the Glentrothes by-election with advice, I hope, from Lord Steel and Sir Menzies Campbell on the rounded application of a full range of pro-European policies necessary to a substantial result. It is the SNP you are fighting now.

Since the UKIP postings are advising on how to vote, just remember never to vote for them. A Mirage of Farage is just what nobody needs.
4

David55,

London 31/08/2008 15:47:18
Mocking comments from a UKIP supporter are the only comments. I feel sorry for the Lib-dems, well it's pity really. What do they stand for? The nicest thing I can say about them is they are not Labour or the Tories, but what are they?
5

1745,

Edinburgh 31/08/2008 16:10:25
So Nicol Stephen is not on the new Lib Dem Cabinet, Wonder why, Could it be that he has other fish to fry or Buses to run ?
6

MacGillicuddy,

31/08/2008 16:22:35
Tavish and his Fibdums? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

#1
Have you found a suitable telephone booth in Glenrothes to have the UKIP-BNP rally in yet?
7

Alan B,

31/08/2008 16:31:11
The lib dems just seem unable to give anyone a good reason to vote for them.

Scott just wants to sit on the fence so that he is not compromised in the future.

8

Active Sassenach,

Luton, England 31/08/2008 16:38:17
#4, David55. My comment did not uphold UKIP and I do not support them. Nor are my comments towards the Lib Dems mocking. Sir Menzies Campbell and Lord Steel of Aikwood can tell you what proper, true-to-the-last, principled Lib Dems stand for.

Let me be clear. Alex Salmond is now going to state SNP policy on reserved matters which goes beyond the devolution settlement - not least because Scotland is defended out of the whole UK budget and not solely at Scotland's own expense. You can only have a foreign policy if you can defend it as Anthony Eden could have told you at the time of Suez. And you can only defend it if you can pay for it, as the Americans discovered in Vietnam and know only too well from Iraq - which bad examples of US Power should not lead you to believe that, if you have a neutral foreign policy, you will never be attacked.

Glenrothes will be fought, will it, on SNP foreign policy? Tavish Scott will need Sir Menzies Campbell, and probably Lord Ashdown, to help him expose that chimera and I wish him every success.
9

Scotish Exile,

31/08/2008 16:42:44
the Lib Dems are a complete and utter irreverence,
10

MacGillicuddy,

31/08/2008 16:48:24
#9
and an utter irrelevance!!
11

It's life but not as we know it,

The Oort Clouds 31/08/2008 17:02:54
Who sits and where in the Scottish Liberal party is about as interesting as which sheep takes a particular spot to sleep in a field.
12

The Former Mr. Angry,

Perth 31/08/2008 17:05:01
Big ZZZZZzzzzz's for this one. So there was a reshuffle. Aye, OK, did anyone notice the difference!
13

morris,

edinburgh 31/08/2008 17:10:25
Whether Scotland remains in the UK or not, will be decided by a referendum/referenda or through the ballot box in a manner so unequivocal that any further expense is futile, and renders the confirmation of academic interest only.Meanwhile the Unionist parties should concentrate on ensuring Scotland is treated fairly by Westminster government,and act like devolved parties themselves.If Labour Tory and Lib Dem continue with their present position of totally obsequious behaviour then they will be humped even more than they have already been.

The balls in your court chaps. Better start kicking before you are red carded at Glenrothes!
14

It's life but not as we know it,

The Oort Clouds 31/08/2008 17:20:33
Latest I saw is that Darling couldn't care less anymore but feels that if he's going he will take Gordon with him. My God, if I was him I'd just leg it and be glad to be shot of the creepy freak from Notre Dame.

It'll be Balls next - let the headlines ring out on that one.
15

morris,

edinburgh 31/08/2008 17:23:35
7
Alan B,
31/08/2008 16:31:11

Whilst I agree with what you are saying,I have noticed that people who declare support fro the Lib Dems are people who obviously recognise the failings of Tweedledum and Tweedledee,but are either unsure of what they should do about it,or cannot support the SNP for a variety of reasons presumably.

Why they cannot support the SNP is a mystery in some cases ,and one can only conclude that they have swallowed the Daily Retard claptrap,or feel that they alienate themselves from their British roots which I can understand,but do not agree with of course.

It was most noticable when I canvassed student properties in Edinburgh East .There was (as one would expect) a high presence from our southern neighbour,and they were supporters of the Lib Dems without exception,but the Scots students would not touch them.The contrast was such that you could not fail to notice.

So if you are tired of Labour and Tory and dont want to achieve anything in Scotland VOTE LIB DEM.

Otherwise VOTE SNP.
16

morris,

edinburgh 31/08/2008 17:25:23
14

BALLS UP IN THE POLLS !

Amazing what can make Labour activists happy these days !
17

,

31/08/2008 17:51:44
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
18

David55,

London 31/08/2008 18:03:54
#8 - Well D'uh! I wrote it at the same time as you were writing your comments. Hence there were only two comments, both of which from someone call Vote UKIP.
19

Col. Blimp­IV*,

31/08/2008 18:09:47
#18
David55,
London 31/08/2008 18:03:54

You had 23sec in which to read, digest and respond.

There is a chap here who can manage 4 posts per second...eh Pax?
20

It's life but not as we know it,

The Oort Clouds 31/08/2008 18:30:56
#16 Maybe we could rephrase that: "Balls gets licked in the polls"

21

David55,

London 31/08/2008 19:04:26
Do many Lib-dem supporters read this site?
22

bully wee alba,

Edinburgh 31/08/2008 19:35:10
Lib-Dems?

Who or what are they?

Are they these odd characters with reversible fore and surnames?

Stephen Nichol, Scott Tavish, Pompous Lord Baron Sir Steel David, CBE, MBE, OBE, of that ilk, Mainwairing Captain of sitting in EU corridors fame, Grim Joe, Campbell Menzies, Thorpe Jeremy of …..ummm better no go there, Ashdown Paddy, (well, at least he appears to like women).

Does that list encompass the full membership of the Lib-Dem party?

Perhaps not.

When they have their “Scottish” party political conference, it is seen as a matter of sport in my household to bet upon when the first speaker will have a recognizable Scottish accent.
23

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 31/08/2008 22:02:54
Tavish reshuffles the backroom team - that'll be the whole party then.
24

Active Sassenach,

Luton, England 01/09/2008 12:19:43
#3, #4, #8 and #18. I declare my peace with David 55, London. Sassenach 58, Luton. Our posts crossed in the blogpipes!

I might just take #19's porridge with a pinch of salt Col.BlimpIV. 4 posts a second and a keyboard on fire.

 

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