The new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Tavish Scott, will pitch himself straight into the front line today with a visit to Glenrothes in support of his party's by-election candidate.

Mr Scott won the leadership election comfortably yesterday at the first count, taking 1450 (59%) of the first-preference votes cast in a 61% turnout of party members. Ross Finnie gained 568 votes (23%) and Mike Rumbles 439 (18%), with both offering their full support to the new leader.

Mr Scott, 42, the MSP for Shetland who served as a minister in the previous coalition government, said: "I am clear in my mind about the challenge ahead and the opportunities that this challenge presents.

"The tectonic plates of Scottish politics really are shifting and when they stop I am determined that the Liberal Democrats will be a dominant presence on the political landscape."

He began in combative fashion, attacking First Minister Alex Salmond as "dishonest" over what he claimed were broken pledges on housing.

He also claimed the public "did not give two hoots" about a constitutional referendum, although he appeared to stop short of previous rhetoric ruling out any backing for such a poll.

The Fife by-election, for which no date has been set, says much about the task facing Mr Scott as he tries to drag the party back from fourth position in Scottish politics.

The forthcoming by-election gives Mr Scott the chance to make an early impact as leader but his party is in a difficult position there. The proximity of Glenrothes to Dunfermline serves as a reminder of the party's spectacular by-election there in February 2006, while North-east Fife is a longstanding bastion for the LibDems.