LIBERAL Democrat leader Tim Farron has said he is confident his party's sole Scottish MP will survive a legal bid to oust him from his seat.

Alistair Carmichael, the former Scottish Secretary, is defending a court action aimed at removing him from his Orkney and Shetland seat.

It has been claimed his re-election, with a majority of less than 1000, was in breach of the Representation of the People Act because voters were unaware of his involvement in leaking a memo intended to damage Nicola Sturgeon in the run up to the General Election.

Mr Carmichael initially denied any involvement before accepting responsibility and issuing an apology.

Mr Farron threw his weight behind the MP as he made his first visit to Scotland since succeeding Nick Clegg as Lib Dem leader.

Asked if he was worried the court case would remove his only Scottish MP, he replied: "It's fair to say we are not.

"I'm 100 per cent behind Alistair Carmichael. He is an outstanding constituency MP.

"The overwhelming majority of people in Orkney and Shetland massively respect him, have huge affection for him and know people sometimes make mistakes."

He added: "My sense is that outside the political bubble the overwhelming majority of people are decent people who give people a second chance when they say sorry."

He said attempts to oust the MP were politically motivated and urged those behind the legal challenge to "discover their inner liberal".

Mr Farron acknowledged the Scottish Lib Dems, who are languishing in the polls, faced an uphill struggle in next May's Holyrood election.

But he insisted: "The space for a Liberal party is massive in Scotland.

"There is no glossing over the current situation but opportunities are there to be taken.

"I'm confident that in Willie Rennie we have the most powerful opposition voice in Scotland to make the case for the SNP to be judged on its record, not its rhetoric directed at another parliament several hundred miles away."

He said his party offered a "moderate, compassionate" alternative to the SNP and Labour on the left and the Conservatives on the right.

He also attacked the SNP's "centralising" agenda, adding: "There is nothing progressive about a one party state."

Earlier he met Scottish Refugee Council, the Refugee Women's Strategy Group and Amnesty International in Edinburgh to discuss additional support Scotland could offer refugees arriving in Britain from Calais.