Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton insisted he was not putting a limit on his party’s ambitions as he predicted a “massive leap forward” in the election.
The Scottish Lib Dems are confident of at least doubling their representation at Holyrood from five MSPs.
The party won four seats in 2021, with Jamie Greene adding to its numbers in parliament last year when he defected from the Scottish Conservatives.
While the Lib Dems are targeting 10 constituency seats, Mr Cole-Hamilton has also placed an increased focus on making gains on the regional list.
That strategy was clear in Edinburgh on the final day of campaigning as the party held an event with a peach theme – the colour of the regional ballot paper.
Wearing a peach-coloured suit, Mr Cole-Hamilton told the Press Association he was buoyed by polling numbers which, he claimed, indicated the party was “storming” into election day on Thursday.
“I’m not going to put a limit on our ambition,” he said.
“But we’re really excited in what we’re seeing in our numbers coming back in seats across the Highlands, the west coast, East Dunbartonshire, Fife and Edinburgh, but also on that second peach-coloured ballot where everyone can vote for the Lib Dems.
“We think we’re going to take a massive leap forward and deliver our vision for change with fairness at its heart.”
While Mr Cole-Hamilton reiterated his desire to see the SNP out of government, he would not be drawn on potential alliances post-election.
“Talk of after-election deals is for after the election,” he said.
“But we’re not going to put the SNP back in power.”
Mr Cole-Hamilton said he had “not really picked up” what some have characterised as a so-called “scunner factor” of public disinterest and disillusionment in the campaign.
The party leader argued the contrary, insisting his engagement with voters had been largely “positive”.
“The change that Scotland needs is a change of government, but it needs to be a vision for change with fairness at its heart,” he said.
The Lib Dems have placed a policy focus on the NHS, education, cost-of-living issues and Scotland’s transport infrastructure during the campaign.
