Liberal Democrats believe in strong communities, where local people can come together to meet local needs, enjoy a pleasant local environment, and feel free from the threat of crime. We want every community to be safe and fair, and offer opportunities to people of every background.

Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Parliament and at this Westminster election are committed to providing more affordable homes and protecting people from unfair repossessions. We will protect the identity of local high streets and keep post offices open, as well as investing in public transport and cutting rail fares. We value Britain’s open, welcoming character, and will protect it by changing the immigration system to make it firm and fair so people can once again put their faith in it. We will pay for thousands more police on the beat across the UK, including 300 more in Scotland. We will protect and restore our natural environment.

cutting crime with practical steps

We will focus on what works to cut crime. We support more positive activities for young people, particularly those at risk of offending. Targeted initiatives like this have been shown to cut crime by up to a third in the areas concerned and divert young people from getting into a life of crime. Labour and the Conservatives posture on penalties, which do not deter criminals. What does deter them is increasing the chances of being caught. That is why we need more police on the streets – to provide a longer arm for the law.

Liberal Democrats will pay for 3,000 more police on the beat across the UK, affordable because we are cutting other spending, such as scrapping pointless ID cards. This money will be enough to increase Scottish police numbers by 300 above existing plans.

Too many politicians have talked tough, meting out ever-longer prison sentences, but prisons are often, in effect, colleges of crime. Liberal Democrats believe that once a criminal has been caught, it is vital that the punishment they are given helps to turn them away from crime, and sets them back on the straight and narrow. We support rigorously enforcedcommunity sentences and restorative justice programmes that make offenders confront their behaviour.

firm and fair immigration system

Britain has always been an open, welcoming country, and thousands of businesses, schools and hospitals in many parts of the country rely on people who’ve come to live here from overseas. It would be wrong to try and end immigration completely but we have to manage migration so it benefits Britain and is fair for everyone.

The immigration system is in chaos after decades of incompetent management. The Government has failed to plan properly for new migrants, making it harder for people to integrate.

We will create a fair system that works and promotes integration. We will:

Immediately reintroduce exit checks at all ports and airports.

Introduce a regional points-based system to ensure migrants can work only where they are needed. We need to enforce any immigration system through rigorous checks on businesses and a crackdown on rogue employers who profit from illegal labour.

a fair deal for public transport

Britain needs a well-run, efficient transport system. Public transport is an important part of a fair society and the best way to cut carbon emissions from transport without trying to limit people’s opportunities to travel. We want to improve the experience for the rail traveller and cut carbon emissions.

We will:

Support High Speed Rail from London to Scotland, with links to the whole of Scotland.