Responding to​ new embargoed research conducted by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland that shows almost eight in 10 people think demand for mental health services will increase after the pandemic is over, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today called for more funding for mental health and fresh resources to deliver local and accessible mental health support in all parts of Scotland.

Marking this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have called for new measures to end gender-based violence.

After the murder of Sarah Everard, Scottish Liberal Democrats urged the government to establish a Commission to look at specific measures to prevent violence against women and girls in all its forms. While the Government had initially shown interest, they have not taken this forward.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie has today said the SNP are failing to provide flexibility for families as a new report revealed that the number of childminders in Scotland had fallen by over a quarter in the past five years.

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed news today that the UK government has reversed course to allow a ringfenced £20m pot of investment into tidal stream renewables in the upcoming Contract for Difference funding round.

Responding to the Health Secretary’s comments on GMS in which he admitted recovery from the pandemic would take years rather than months, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP has today claimed the SNP Government has lost its way on education.

His comments come after the Education Secretary announced proposals to “fiddle” with the Challenge Schools fund and indicated that the poverty related attainment gap was about to get wider.

Mr Rennie said:

"This statement just paves the way for bad news to come on the already yawning poverty related attainment gap.  Years ago, the SNP Government promised to close it completely but now it is set to get even wider.

Scottish Liberal Democrat drugs emergency spokesperson Ben Lawrie has today questioned why police resources are wasted on tackling cannabis possession rather than targeting other serious crimes and criminal organisations, as new figures published by Police Scotland today revealed that in 2019-20 there were 12,400 cannabis drug possession crimes, more than every other drug combined. 

Ben Lawrie said:

"We know that the police are run off their feet. There are clearly a host of public safety matters more pressing that picking up people for low level cannabis possession. 

“Instead, the public want officers to target violent crime and redirect their focus towards keeping communities safe. 

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's statement from the First Minister in which she is expected to set out an expansion of Covid ID cards, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton urged the government to ditch the “unworkable" scheme and demanded a full parliamentary vote on any further expansion before it comes into force.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur has today urged the Scottish Government to deliver workable proposals on drug consumption rooms and for the leaders of the SNP and Scottish Conservative party to declare their support for trials to go ahead.