Former MP and Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Argyll and Bute, Alan Reid has today attacked the SNP's slow progress in delivering a solution for landslips that have consistently disrupted travel on the A83 at the Rest & Be Thankful.

This morning, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson announced that a "long term preferred route corridor" through Glen Croe had been identified. However, Mr Reid highlighted that similar options had been considered as far back as 2012 but were never delivered.

Alan Reid said:

At today’s First Minister’s Question Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie asked the First Minister about the casualisation of teachers and zero hours contracts.

Mr Rennie said:

“This week I met teachers employed on casual, short term and zero hours contracts. The numbers employed in this way have mushroomed in recent years and they are desperate for permanent contracts. 

“John Swinney met with these teachers last summer and promised a full and proper response to the teachers’ request, but the teachers are still waiting. This is not the type of treatment teachers deserve, this is lack of respect towards them and their chosen profession.

Scottish Liberal Democrats will this afternoon trigger a vote that could see the Scottish Parliament back the principle of drug decriminalisation for the first time, as MSPs reflect at the close of Parliament on how to address Scotland's drugs death emergency.

Justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP commented:

"People are dying preventable deaths three, four, five, maybe even six decades before their time. The pain felt by families and friends will still be so raw. Parliament owes it them to drop any lingering excuses. There are none.

"People found in possession of drugs for personal use should be diverted into treatment. Prison is not the place for vulnerable people gripped by addiction. Target the dealers but get people into treatment.

Speaking after SNP parliamentarians voted against an amended motion which stated “That this House believes the priority of the Scottish people is to recover from the effects of the covid-19 pandemic, and that it would be irresponsible to hold a referendum at this time”, Liberal Democrat Scottish Affairs spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said:

“This is a black mark on the record of every SNP MP. When I speak to constituents, they are worried about their child’s education, their parent’s operation and their future job prospects.

Commenting on confirmation from Connectivity Minister Paul Wheelhouse, that the Highlands & Islands part of the Scottish Government’s superfast broadband rollout will not be finished until 2026,  five years later than originally planned, Scottish Liberal Democrat rural broadband spokesperson Alan Reid said:

"The previous minister for connectivity promised to fall on his sword if superfast broadband wasn't delivered by 2021. It looks like he got out of the job just in time.

"Absolutely no one in the Highlands & Islands will be surprised that the Scottish Government's promises have turned out to be all hot air.

"The pandemic has exposed the glaring digital divide that exists between rural and urban parts of Scotland.

The Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats has called the First Minister’s Covid Statement opaque after she failed to include any indicators and data as she promised previously. 

Willie Rennie said:

“For the last few weeks the First Minister told the country it was all about data not dates but this statement had quite a few dates but no data. 

Scottish Liberal Democrat equalities spokesperson Caron Lindsay has today called on the Scottish Government to do more to encourage victims of stalking and harassment to come forward as new figures revealed that almost one in eight adults had experienced at least one type of stalking and harassment.

The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2019/20 showed:

• Almost one-in-eight adults (11.8%) experienced at least one type of stalking and harassment within the previous 12 months. 
• The most common type of stalking and harassment reported in the SCJS was being sent unwanted messages by text, email, messenger or posts on social media sites.
• The police were informed about the most recent incident in around one-in-ten cases.
• There has been an increase in the proportion citing their gender, gender identity or perception of this as a possible motivating factor, from 5% in 2012/13 to 11% in 2019/20
  
  

Caron Lindsay said:

Responding to the Government's Integrated Review, released today, Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson Jamie Stone MP said:

“The Government’s Integrated Review is not strategic, not integrated, and not a proper review. Rather, it is full of retreat and broken promises.

"Our Armed forces are being cut back and the Defence budget is in a mess.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have today called for a commission to look into violence against women and girls and consider ways to make society more hospitable to them.

Party leader Willie Rennie and equalities spokesperson Caron Lindsay are asking for all major parties to commit to a commission to look into these issues and report back with recommendations within the first year of the new Parliament.  

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: 

Liberal Democrat MPs will this evening vote against the UK Government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Speaking ahead of the debate, former police officer and MP for North East Fife Wendy Chamberlain said:

“Like so many others, I was shocked and appalled at the events on Clapham Common on Saturday night. It is an outrage that a peaceful vigil in memory of Sarah Everard was shut down by the police. It is a disgrace that one of the women was arrested. It is very difficult to see how the Met could have gotten this more wrong – and I say that as a former police officer. The leadership have let down the rank-and-file officers. And it is right that Cressida Dick should now consider her position.