Jo Swinson is being lined up for a seat at Holyrood amid speculation Willie Rennie could stand down as Scottish Liberal Democrat leader after next year’s election, we can reveal.
North East Fife MSP Mr Rennie will have been in charge of the party north of the border for a decade next May and is understood to be “keen” to see a fresh face take over in 2021. Ms Swinson is believed to be the favoured choice among senior figures.
The former UK party leader, who lost her East Dunbartonshire Westminster seat at last year’s general election, is now understood to be “seriously considering” a run at Holyrood.
“With Willie stepping down, it would be great to have Jo back in a prominent role. She’s been asked and she’s seriously considering a run”, a party source said.
Asked about the rumours, a Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesman said: “The Liberal Democrats intend to grow in numbers across Scotland for Holyrood in 2021.
“Jo Swinson is very talented and will be of huge value to the country in whatever role she wants to play in the future in our party.”
And on Mr Rennie stepping down, the spokesman added: “Willie Rennie has developed a strong reputation over the last decade as leader. He has grown the party in Scotland, greatly improved diversity and made huge strides to improve government policy on mental health provision, police support and childcare.
“He has still got a lot of work ahead of him in holding the SNP to account on ailing public services and pushing forward the positive case for the UK.”
Ms Swinson’s last public appearance came after December’s election, in which she apologised to the Lib Dems for a dismal set of results.
Naming some of the MPs ejected as her party lost 10 of its pre-election tally of 21, including the Brexit spokesman, Tom Brake, and all the recent defectors from the Conservatives and Labour, Ms Swinson said: “I’m so sorry I couldn’t get them re-elected.”
In a speech to party activists, Ms Swinson said she had been an “unapologetic voice of remain in this election”.
The stance prompted some criticism inside the Lib Dems, notably the pledge to revoke Brexit without a second referendum if the party won a majority.
In the weeks following the disaster at the polls, there was talk at Westminster that Ms Swinson would be offered a peerage, but sources in her camp have since dismissed that idea.
“Why would she want to go to the Lords? She’s too young and too talented, we need her back fighting on the front-line”, a source said.
