The Glasgow East By-election 2008

'Ross Finnie, the Scottish environment minister, was at the centre of a conflict-of-interest row last night after it emerged that he is close friends with the head of a shipbuilding company that has benefited from key decisions he has made. The Scotsman has learned that Mr Finnie has had a 20-year social relationship with Alan Dunnet, chief executive of Ferguson shipbuilders in Port Glasgow, which he has never declared. As the minister responsible for fisheries, Mr Finnie awarded Ferguson's an £8 million contract for a fisheries protection vessel in 2002 and when the boat was finished in 2003, Phyllis Finnie, Mr Finnie's wife, was invited to launch it.' Hamish MacDonell, Scottish Political Editor in the Scotsman, 16 th June 2006.

Scottish voters snub Liberal Democrats

Voters are snubbing the Liberal Democrats because the party's message is blurred and does not set the political agenda, one of the party's most senior MSPs has admitted

By Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor in the Telegraph, 26 th July 2008

Ross Finnie, the former Scottish rural affairs minister, conceded his party had made little progress despite a "fatally wounded" Labour Government and the SNP breaking its manifesto promises at Holyrood.

The Lib Dems at were pushed into fourth place behind the Tories at the Glasgow East by-election, seeing their vote plummet to the extent they lose their deposit.

Mr Finnie made the comments yesterday as he launched his campaign for the Scottish Liberal Democrats' leadership following Nicol Stephen's departure earlier this month.

Tavish Scott, a former Scottish transport minister, and Mike Rumbles, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP, are also in the running.

In an indictment of Mr Stephen and Nick Clegg, the UK party leader, Mr Finnie said: "Our message somehow has become blurred, lacking a distinctive Liberal Democrat edge.

"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."

Mr Finnie insisted he alone could bring a coherent message that would set the party apart from its rivals. The 61-year-old said he would turn fortunes around by concentrating on individual freedoms, building a healthier society, free of poverty and deprivation.

Ballots will be sent to party members next week before hustings take place across the country. The deadline for ballots is August 26, when the winner is due to be announced.