By Steve Bargeton political editor

SCOTTISH POLITICS was rocked last night by the second high-profile leadership resignation in less than a week when Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen quit out of the blue.

The party had planned to release the news at a Press conference today but had to make a hurried statement late last night after word of his decision leaked out.

Last weekend Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander stepped down after Holyrood’s standards committee voted to recommend she be barred from Parliament for one day when MSPs return from the summer recess in September for failing to promptly declare donations to her leadership campaign last summer.

In a statement, Aberdeen South MSP Mr Stephen said he has decided to resign as party leader to spend more time with his family.

Mr Stephen has four children, aged between four and 12.

“That other cliche is for a politician to say he is looking forward to spending more time with his family,” he said.

“In my case it happens to be true.”

Mr Stephen spoke of the pressure of high-profile politics on his personal life.

“Everyone involved in politics knows that there are stresses and strains on family life,” he said. “But when it goes beyond that, when it crosses a line, something has to be done.

“And at that stage—when you have to make a choice between family and politics—there can only be one answer. The health and wellbeing of your family has got to come first.

“As an MSP representing a constituency well away from Edinburgh, I have been away from home at least four working days each week for more than nine years. As a party leader, the responsibilities have been even more demanding. You have to be available every day, every week.

“There is rarely a weekend, a birthday or a family holiday when the demands of the job do not intrude.

“That is not to complain—long hours and long absences from home go with the job. But it can all have an impact. And when that impact becomes too great, it is time to put my family first.”

Mr Stephen said he will continue to represent Aberdeen South in the Scottish Parliament.

He said he will miss his weekly jousts with First Minister Alex Salmond at Question Time.

“I have enjoyed challenging the new First Minister at question time each week. I will miss that,” he said. “I will miss it all, a great deal.

“My hunger for change in Scotland —tackling global warming, building the role of young people in our country and stopping the slide of civil liberties—is no less now than when I started in politics 25 years ago.

“However, that drive and that passion comes at a price. And it is a sacrifice that my family should no longer have to make.

“Their happiness is more important than any political office and that is the reason for me standing down as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.”

Mr Stephen was a minister throughout the first eight years of devolution in the Labour/Lib Dem coalition Scottish Executive. He served as transport minister and latterly as enterprise minister and deputy first minister to Labour First Minister Jack McConnell.

When the SNP swept to power in May last year Mr Stephen refused to take his party into coalition with the nationalists.

He claimed the fact that the SNP wanted a referendum on independence was an insurmountable stumbling block. In opposition the Lib Dems have been marginalised at Holyrood and Mr Stephen has had a torrid time.

Although he has landed some telling blows at First Minister’s Question Time, it has been Labour and Scottish Tories who have made the running.

No sooner had rumours that Mr Stephen might resign begun to circulate than speculation on his successor began. The hot favourite must be former transport minister Tavish Scott, who many believe would have been a better choice for the party when leader Jim Wallace stepped aside.

In a statement Mr Wallace said, “Anyone who knows Nicol, and knows his family, will know he has done the right thing… His achievements both in government and in opposition will stand the test of time.”