Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles MSP has today said that the SNP's policy towards the expansion of Heathrow is an unmitigated embarrassment as he pressed the government over a memorandum of understanding signed by former Economy Secretary Keith Brown in October 2016.

Speaking outside the Scottish Parliament chamber, Mr Rumbles said:

"Keith Brown announced that he had "engaged extensively" with Heathrow, signed a memorandum of understanding and talked up the deal for two years. Then SNP MPs abstained.

"The SNP should have opposed Heathrow expansion from the start because it flies a jumbo jet through our climate change commitments and funnels more people and money to the South East.

"Instead, the Scottish Government is in a total muddle. Led by Keith Brown, it blundered into this saga. We were told the economic guarantees from Heathrow - not the UK Government - were in the bank and trumped any and all environmental concerns.

"This sorry saga is an unmitigated embarrassment for this government."