The Glenrothes By-election 2008

'Concerns have been expressed after it emerged that only 61% of Lib Dem members across Scotland bothered to vote for the party's new leader. A senior party source said it was "extremely dis- appointing" that only 2,457 members out of around 4,500 took part in the contest to find a successor to Nicol Stephen. The official lamented that if grassroots supporters "could not be bothered" to return a ballot paper in a pre-paid envelope, what chance has the party of attracting new support.' Severin Carrell, Scottish Labour Correspondent in the Guardian, 4 th September 2008.

Lacklustre Lib Dems ignored poll

Concerns over Two out of five party members failing to vote in leadership elections

By Cameron Brooks in the Press & Journal 28 th August 2008

Concerns have been expressed after it emerged that only 61% of Lib Dem members across Scotland bothered to vote for the party's new leader.

A senior party source said it was "extremely dis- appointing" that only 2,457 members out of around 4,500 took part in the contest to find a successor to Nicol Stephen.

The official lamented that if grassroots supporters "could not be bothered" to return a ballot paper in a pre-paid envelope, what chance has the party of attracting new support.

Shetland MSP Tavish Scott was elected to succeed Mr Stephen, Aberdeen South MSP, on Wednesday.

The 42-year-old father-of-three polled 1,450 of the first-preference votes, 59%, with former minister Ross Finnie in second place on 568, 23%, and Mike Rumbles third with 439, 18%.

Political opponents said it did not auger well for the future if Lib Dem members were so disillusioned themselves.

The Conservatives pointed out that 78% of members turned out to vote in David Cameron's leadership contest.

Deputy leader Murdo Fraser added: "This shows a real lack of enthusiasm in the Lib Dems for the contest, and represents a deeper disillusionment among its members with the current political direction, which of course reflects what the polls are telling us and the public thinks too."

A SNP spokesman added: "It is Tavish Scott's previously hardline opposition to a democratic referendum and failure to engage with the new politics which took them to the margins of Scottish politics, and even two-fifths of their own membership in Scotland couldn't be bothered to vote in the leadership election."

But a Lib Dem spokes- man denied that the party was disappointed by the turnout. "It was in keeping with previous elections of this nature," he added.

"When Nicol Stephen won the turnout was 65% so it was in the ballpark that you expect." The spokesman said a survey would have to be carried out to ascertain why so few people did not take part.

Mr Scott, who hit the Glenrothes by-election campaign trail yesterday in support of candidate Harry Wills, has vowed to break his party out of the "Holyrood bubble" and connect with ordinary people.

He has claimed he has spotted "underlying weaknesses" that would eventually topple First Minister Alex Salmond.