Shetland is Scotland's most remote outpost and Tavish Scott has defended it for the Liberal Democrats for 17 years.
The veteran MSP held a number of ministerial posts in Holyrood's first Labour-Liberal Democrat coalitions - including deputy finance minister and latterly transport minister - before the SNP took power in 2007.
But he had the ill-fortune of leading the Lib Dems to their worst defeat since devolution in 2011, reduced to a rump of just five MSPs largely as a result of forces out with his control.
He was elevated in 2008 after the unexpected resignation of Nicol Stephen, who cited "strains on family life" and a desire to spend more time with his family for his withdrawal.
Mr Scott faced his own strains from UK leader Nick Clegg's decision to spend more time with the Tories at Westminster in 2010.
He held his Holyrood seat in 2011 but his leadership was trampled by voters stampeding off in protest at the newly-minted Westminster coalition and Mr Clegg's U-turn on tuition fees - which had no direct impact on Scotland.
It was a cruel irony for the federalist from a far-flung constituency that his fate was sealed largely by decisions made 750 miles away in London.
He was a member of the Lib Dem Steel Commission on devolution in 2006 and the more influential Smith Commission that paved the way for the Scotland Act 2016.
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