MIKE RUMBLES, the outsider candidate in the Liberal Democrat leadership contest, says he wants to see Scotland taking full control of its economy, and getting a slice of North Sea oil.

Rumbles also says he wants to clarify his party's "inconsistent" policy on referenda and believes the LibDems must overhaul their public image of being "fence-sitters".

He also criticised the LibDems' election campaign last May and said decision-making had been concentrated in the hands of the party leadership.

The LibDems face a leadership contest this summer following the resignation last week of Nicol Stephen, who stood down from the top job to spend more time with his family.

Rumbles, the MSP for Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine who lost to Stephen in the 2005 leadership contest, says he wants to make his party's policy on referenda a key issue in the debate.

The LibDems under Stephen opposed a referendum on independence and increasing the Parliament's powers.

In an interview with the Sunday Herald, Rumbles signalled he favoured putting the concept of expanding Holyrood's powers to the people: "I'll give you a clue. The name of our party: liberal and democratic.

"I very much believe in the benefits of the UK: defence, foreign affairs, international relations. But we need to be in charge of our own economic affairs, and that means full fiscal autonomy."

He backed the parliament controlling the social security system, as well as receiving a portion of North Sea oil revenues: "Just as Shetland has had a chance to benefit directly from oil revenues, so should Scotland."

He added: "I want to see controversy back in the party. I want to see us at the cutting edge of politics. I don't want us to be perceived as fence-sitters."

Rumbles could be joined in the contest by MSPs Tavish Scott, Ross Finnie and Jeremy Purvis.

An SNP spokesman said: "We welcome Mike Rumbles's comments. The first thing he did after declaring his leadership ambitions was open up the question of an independence referendum, and call for it to be decided by the LibDem members. We also very much welcome his comments on significantly increasing the Parliament's powers."