16 days after his conviction for 23 charges of domestic violence against 3 former wives over a 28 year period, Dunfermline MSP has resigned his seat in Holyrood. Typically, he blamed the media pressure rather than his own actions.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

Good

Bill Walker should have understood immediately the gravity of his situation but it has taken sixteen days for the penny to drop.

It is sad that he continues to blame others instead of taking responsibility himself for his own actions.

It would have been wrong for someone convicted of so many counts of domestic violence to return to Parliament. I’m pleased he’s gone.

The uprising of revulsion from people and Parliament against domestic violence is one of the satisfying features of this sorry episode.

The message is clear: we will not tolerate domestic violence.

Walker’s announcement came on a day when Michael Moore sought talks with the Holyrood authorities to investigate a rule change. Alex Salmond, unable to resist a good row with Westminster, wrote to Nick Clegg demanding the power to do something about the situation.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings