Holyrood elections on 5 May 2011. He was the only new Liberal Democrat MSP to win a seat in this election. After the resignation of leader Tavish Scott, Rennie stood in the resulting leadership election. He was the only candidate to be nominated, and was declared elected when the nominations closed on 17 May. He vowed to stand up to the "SNP bulldozer" majority, and refused to distance his party from the UK Liberal Democrats. During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, Rennie campaigned alongside Better Together to remain in the United Kingdom. He opposes a second independence referendum, favouring a more federal UK. In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the Liberal Democrats again elected five MSPs, while gaining two constituency seats and holding their existing two with increased majorities. Rennie was elected in North East Fife, gaining it from the SNP with a 9.5% swing. Rennie was re-elected in North East Fife for the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, with doubled majority. On 12 July 2021, Rennie announced his resignation as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, effective from September. He was replaced by Alex Cole-Hamilton, the MSP for Edinburgh Western. Home Rule commission plan In September 2011, Rennie announced plans for a commission building on the work of the Lord Steel Commission to develop a blueprint for Home Rule and full fiscal federalism that would map out further devolution of powers after the Scotland Bill 2011 was passed into statute. Armed Forces Legal Action Willie Rennie was appointed as an honorary patron of Armed Forces Legal Action (AFLA) in April 2014. AFLA is a network of British law firms offering discounted legal services to members of the British military community, founded by Scottish solicitor and former Scottish Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Allan Steele, WS. References External links Willie Rennie MSP 's official website Willie Rennie MSP official Liberal Democrats profile Willie Rennie MSP official Scottish Liberal Democrats profile Dunfermline and West Fife Liberal Democrats BBC Profile 1967 births Living people Alumni of the University of the West of Scotland British special advisers Leaders of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats (UK) officials Liberal Democrat MSPs Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Fife constituencies Members of the Scottish Parliament 2011–2016 Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021 Members of the Scottish Parliament 2021–2026 People educated at Bell Baxter High School People from Fife Place of birth missing (living people)