On Tuesday the Scottish Liberal Democrats elected their new leader following the resignation of Nicol Stephen for personal reasons. The leadership contest was won by Tavish Scott, MSP for the Shetland Islands. During his first speech as Scottish LibDem leader, Scott said that he would consider supporting the referendum on independence that the Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond, has proposed for the year 2010.

The Scottish press has reported that Scott had always been against a referendum on independence and had in fact opposed a pact between the Scottish LibDems and the Scottish National Party (SNP) on the grounds that the SNP pledged a referendum in their election manifesto. Now he is Scottish LibDem leader, however, Scott has stated that he is "not intuitively against making sure that people have a choice and an opportunity to cast a vote" on independence.

The Scottish LibDems face the same dilemma as other unionist parties in Scotland: should they firmly oppose an eventual referendum on independence or pledge their support as long as the polls continue to predict a victory for the ‘no' camp? In May the then Scottish Labour leader, Wendy Alexander, decided to go for the latter option, but days later she was forced to make a U-turn due to pressure from Westminster.

Scott has also been asked to clarify his declaration of support for a referendum. Just hours after his first speech, applauded by some SNP members, the MSP for the Shetlands stressed that the LibDems would not allow the SNP to snatch independence "by the back door". This expression has become commonplace among unionists since March, when Salmond proposed a multi-option referendum, which, according to some analysts, could result in an independent Scotland even if fewer than 50% of voters are in favour of secession from the United Kingdom.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats are the fourth largest party in Holyrood, the Scottish Parliament, with 16 MSPs, ahead of the Scottish Green Party (2), but behind the Scottish Conservative Party (17), the Scottish Labour Party (46), and the SNP (47).

Further information:

• Scotsman: New Lib Dem leader will consider backing vote on independence
• The Herald: Lib Dem leader Scott plays down independence referendum talk
• Scottish Liberal Democrats website.

See Scotland profile for furter information.