Council leader to stand down
THE Highland Council’s current budget leader, David Alston, has emerged as the clear favourite to replace Michael Foxley as the Liberal Democrats’ new leader in the North.
The experienced Ross-shire councillor, who has been in charge of the local authority’s purse strings since 2008 and presided over £20.4 million of cuts, is the frontrunner to replace Dr Foxley.
Local Lib Dem councillor David Flear, who represents Landward Caithness, said he believed Mr Alston would be a wise choice.
He added: "David Alston is a very able person who has proven that as budget leader for the Highland Council and he has got the skills and knowledge to know how the council operates and works."
Mr Flear added that if Mr Alston was returned after the local authority election on May 3 and the Lib Dems were in a position to form an administration, the councillor would make "an ideal leader".

MP Danny Alexander announced at the party’s spring conference in Inverness on Friday that retired Lochaber GP Dr Foxley was quitting and would not seek re-election.
The Inverness, Nairn, Strathspey and Badenoch MP thanked Dr Foxley for his "years of service to liberalism and community" in what was a surprise u-turn after the longest serving Highland councillor stated in January he intended to seek another term.
Dr Foxley has led his party in the council’s coalition administration with the independents and Labour since 2008 after the original SNP and independent alliance crumbled.
The veteran Fort William and Ardnamurchan member has been a councillor for 26 years.
The 63-year-old father-of-two admitted it had been one of the toughest decisions of his life to step aside.
He pinpointed Mr Alston as his natural successor after May, should he be elected.
"David Alston has done some tremendous work on the budget for the council and will make a great leader of both the Liberal Democrats and the council," said Dr Foxley.
He denied his decision to step down was a blow for the party, which is still reeling from disastrous results in last year’s Scottish Parliament elections, which saw its representation in the Highlands wiped out by the SNP.