Is juggling family life with political leadership just too demanding?

THE phrase "quitting to spend more time with his family" has become one of the most clichéd euphemisms in politics, designed to suggest there are other, more damaging, reasons for the resignation of a politician.

But for Nicol Stephen, this does actually appear to be the reason for his sudden and unexpected decision to stand down as Scottish Liberal Democrat leader.

Mr Stephen, 48, has a wife and four young children, who all live in Aberdeen, while he spends most of the week 130 miles away in Edinburgh. He could not reconcile the demands of his job with the demands of his family.

No-one outside his family knows what part his wife, Caris, played in his decision. What we do know, though, is Mr Stephen felt he had to choose between the two, and chose his family.

So, are the strains so intense the two roles cannot be combined? Lord Wallace of Tankerness, Mr Stephen's predecessor as leader, said: "Its 24/7," he said. "There are the demands from the media; that is greater now than it ever was because the media operates on a 24/7 basis. There are the demands from the party supporters, from the party administrators, and the obvious demands that you have as a parliamentary representative."

Ron Mills, from Life Coach Edinburgh, said many senior figures, in business and in politics, found it difficult to strike the right balance between home and work life. "

The answer is to give up responsibility and delegate where possible but, in the political world, that can be a dangerous thing to do," he said.

"It's about having to let go and trusting the people you work with to do their jobs. I ask people if their organisation would collapse if they dropped dead, and they say, 'No, it wouldn't', so it's about keeping things in perspective."

Mr Stephen revealed he had spent four days away from home each week for more than nine years.

Party leaders generally have to be at the Scottish Parliament between Tuesday morning and Thursday evening every week. Mondays and Fridays are usually kept free for constituency work, but this involves surgeries and more meetings, and possibly media appearances.

Ideally, the weekends should be free, allowing them to unwind, but this rarely happens. There are often party meetings to go to or constituency events to attend, and then there are the almost constant demands, from both the party press officers and the media, for comments, soundbites and television and radio appearances.

For Mr Stephen, the distance between his constituency home and Holyrood certainly didn't help. It meant he could not just nip home after the parliament finished and return, fresh, the following morning. He had to stay in Edinburgh while his family coped without him for two or three nights a week.

Mr Stephen is not the only politician facing a difficult decision because of his family.

Andy Kerr, the former health minister and the frontrunner to replace Wendy Alexander as leader of the Scottish Labour Party, has told friends he might not stand for the post because of the demands of his family.

He only lives about 45 miles from Holyrood but he has two children of school age and is aware becoming leader would put severe strain on his family.

WHAT NEXT

TAVISH Scott yesterday emerged as the frontrunner in the race to succeed Nicol Stephen as Scottish Liberal Democrat leader.

Mr Scott, the former transport minister, said last night that he was considering his position and would make an announcement on whether to stand next week.

But The Scotsman understands that the Shetland MSP has been quietly canvassing the opinions of his fellow MSPs for the past week – since he was first told of Mr Stephen's decision to stand down – and is now well prepared for the leadership contest.

Mr Scott did not challenge for the leadership in 2005 because of family issues, but he would be the clear favourite this time.

Mike Rumbles, the MSP for Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine, announced his intention to stand within minutes of Mr Stephen's resignation being announced.

Jeremy Purvis, the MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, is also considering his position and is expected to enter the contest if he secures enough support from MSPs.

The deputy leader, Michael Moore MP, took over as acting leader on Wednesday and will remain in place until the new leader is elected, probably by the end of the summer recess.