Scottish Lib Dem leadership hopeful Tavish Scott today said he would focus on tackling the economic difficulties families are facing if he becomes the new Liberal Democrat leader.

The former transport minister, backed by former UK party leader Sir Menzies Campbell, vowed he would ensure the Lib Dems "hit the ground running with new ideas".

Today as Sir Menzies and former Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace endorsed his campaign, Mr Scott said: "What I want to do is to make sure our party focuses remorselessly on the cost of living rises that people are facing at this time, the real concerns that there are around fuel prices, food prices and job security.

"If we can do that as a party, if we can focus and have ideas and solutions around those kind of issues I believe people will see a positive reason to vote for the Liberal Democrats."

When asked why he was backing the Shetland MSP, Sir Menzies said: "He's got commitment, vigour, youth, experience."

He added that Mr Scott and Nick Clegg, the man who succeeded him as the party's UK leader, would be a "dream ticket".

Mr Scott is up against former environment minister Ross Finnie and Mike Rumbles to succeed Nicol Stephen, who quit as the party's Scottish leader to spend more time with his family.

In Edinburgh this morning Lib Dem finance spokesman Mr Scott stressed the importance of tackling the rising costs of living.

"The economic circumstances of Britain and indeed Scotland are very pronounced: rising fuel prices, rising energy prices, the growing difficulty people have with food prices," he said.

"The sheer cost of living is very significant and we have a Government in Westminster at the moment who are absolutely running away from those issues, and we have a government in Scotland whose main tactic is to write another letter to the Chancellor.

"I think we need rather better than that.

"I'm determined that if I lead the Scottish Liberal Democrats we will work with our Westminster colleagues to have real solutions for Scotland on those kind of issues and give people a really positive reason to vote Liberal Democrat."

Mr Scott, regarded as the front-runner in the leadership contest, said he was pleased with the progress of his leadership campaign but said he was not taking anything for granted.

"It's good strong contest," he said. "I wouldn't underestimate either of my opponents at all, it would be a foolish politician who did."

Mr Scott also said he would be happy to work with other parties in Holyrood, including the Nationalists.

He pointed out the abolition of the graduate endowment fee had got through Holyrood with the support of the Lib Dems and said: "I'm happy to work with other parties, very much including the SNP.

Of the 11 Lib Dem MSPs and nine MPs who have disclosed who they are supporting for leader, Mr Scott is backed by seven MSPs and eight MPs.

Sir Menzies, the MP for North East Fife, said: "Tavish is the only candidate in this election who has set out a clear vision for the party's future direction and who has the communication skills needed to put our message across in a way that is clear, concise and attractive."

Lord Wallace, the former Scottish Liberal Democrat leader who was appointed to the House of Lords last year, said: "This, more than ever, is a time where we have to put aside personal considerations and do what we believe is best for the party.

"On that basis I have no hesitation in identifying Tavish Scott as being the best choice to be our next leader."