Nicol Stephen will continue as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats for at least the next four years.

The Herald revealed last month that Mr Stephen had secured the support of all of his parliamentary colleagues, making it technically impossible for him to be challenged.

The party yesterday confirmed that with the deadline for nominations past, Mr Stephen was the only leadership candidate. Michael Moore MP will continue as Mr Stephen's deputy.

Mr Stephen, MSP for Aberdeen South, was criticised after the LibDems' lacklustre performance at the Holyrood election, in which they lost two seats to the SNP and one to the Conservatives.

The party is out of government for the first time since devolution after Mr Stephen rejected a coalition with the SNP over Nationalist demands for a referendum on independence.

Mr Stephen said yesterday: "I am very pleased to have the endorsement of all of my MSP colleagues. We are all now determined to spend the next four years leading the opposition to the SNP whenever they exaggerate their claims, betray their promises and downgrade their delivery."

Mr Stephen will today tell the LibDem party conference in Brighton that the devolution settlement should be re-visited and the Scottish Parliament given more powers.

In particular, he will tell say that Holyrood should be given more fiscal autonomy.