Holyrood beckoning for defeated East Dunbartonshire MP Jo Swinson?

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has said he would like to see the party’s former UK leader Jo Swinson in Holyrood.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Apr 2020, 13:05 BST
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson gives a speech entitled 'The Problem With Boris Johnson' at Prince Philip House on November 28, 2019 in London, England. UK voters are set to go to the polls on December 12 in the country's third general election in less than five years. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson gives a speech entitled 'The Problem With Boris Johnson' at Prince Philip House on November 28, 2019 in London, England. UK voters are set to go to the polls on December 12 in the country's third general election in less than five years. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson gives a speech entitled 'The Problem With Boris Johnson' at Prince Philip House on November 28, 2019 in London, England. UK voters are set to go to the polls on December 12 in the country's third general election in less than five years. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Mr Rennie, who said he has not plans to quite as leader, told the PA news agency he has spoken to the former East Dunbartonshire MP, who lost her seat at December’s General Election to the SNP, in an attempt to bring her into his Holyrood cohort.

Ms Swinson has yet to make a decision on her future, the Scottish Lib Dem leader said. She quit as UK leader after she was soundly defeated at the ballot box by the SNP’s Amy Callaghan in a campaign during which she repeatedly said she was looking to be the next Prime Minister.

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In March, The Press and Journal reported speculation Mr Rennie would stand down as party leader and Ms Swinson was being lined up to take on his role.

Rejecting this, Mr Rennie said he is trying to entice the former leader to run for Holyrood in next year’s election.

He said: “I would love to see Jo come to the Scottish Parliament, I think she’s talented.

“I was keen to encourage her to stay involved and for her to consider the Scottish Parliament as one of those options.

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“She’s not made her mind up about that but I think she’s talented and would be great to have.

“It’s too early for her to leave the political scene – I hope she does do it.”

Commenting on his own tenure, Mr Rennie said he had no intention of standing down after nine years at the head of the party.

He said: “Anybody who has been leader for nine years would look at a 10-year period to look at what they’re going to do next.

“But I’ve got no intention of standing down.”

“This is a big opportunity, for somebody who has been around in politics for a while now, just to try to shape things to be a little bit different.”

Related topics:Willie RennieHolyroodEast DunbartonshireLiberal DemocratSNPPrime MinisterScottish Parliament

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