Stephen becomes Deputy First Minister
Nicol Stephen has been elected leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
As such, he automatically becomes the new Deputy First Minister of Scotland under the coalition agreement.
Mr Stephen was the clear winner in the ballot with 76.6 per cent of the vote, to Mike Rumbles 23.4 per cent. The turn out was 65.4 per cent.
Mr Stephen has held the important cabinet post of Transport Minister since 2003 and has long been tipped for the leadership.
He was an MP for one year in the early 1990s in addition to being a qualified solicitor and notary public, and has previously worked as a company director and councillor. He was a founding director of Grampian Enterprise.
Mr Stephen stood on a manifesto of lower business taxes, fully funded student grants and no new nuclear power for Scotland.
Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy sent his warm congratulations, saying: “Nicol has been an outstanding Minister for Transport and he is highly respected throughout the party. I am confident that he will continue to build upon the success of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland during this parliament and beyond.”
Mr Kennedy also sent his best wishes to outgoing leader Jim Wallace, saying: “He has been a wonderful colleague and a great friend and the legacy he leaves to both the Liberal Democrats and Scottish politics is one that I am certain will endure.”
Mr Wallace announced his decision to step down last month, saying it was time for new blood to lead the party. Mr Wallace will leave the Scottish Parliament at the next elections in 2007.
