• Badenoch speech: Scrapping net zero would ‘undermine national energy security’
• Helen Maguire: Not enough has been done to address abuse against women in our Armed Forces
• Children’s Bill: Labour vote against free school meals “deeply disappointing”
• Scotland’s disease burden forecast to increase by more than half

Badenoch speech: Scrapping net zero would ‘undermine national energy security’

Responding to Kemi Badenoch’s speech today claiming that Net Zero by 2050 is ‘impossible’, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper said:

Kemi Badenoch is taking a leaf straight out of Nigel Farage’s playbook while turning her back on the millions of former Conservative voters who care about protecting our environment.

Scrapping net zero and renewable energy targets will simply increase our reliance on foreign fossil fuels, lining the pockets of the likes of Vladimir Putin and his cronies.

Whether it’s abandoning plans for clean energy, slashing maternity pay or undermining the UK’s national energy security, bungling Badenoch’s plans would leave our country worse off.

Helen Maguire: Not enough has been done to address abuse against women in our Armed Forces

Commenting on the Ministry of Defence’s announcement of a new Task Force to tackle violence against women in the military, Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson and Iraq Veteran, Helen Maguire MP, said:

We welcome today’s announcement of a Task Force targeting violence against women and girls in the military. It’s shameful, though, that not enough has been done to address what appears to be widespread abuse in our Armed Forces.

It is shameful how previous policies have continued to fail these brave women. There have been abject failures in leadership in our Armed Forces and from government over many years on this.

The Liberal Democrats have argued consistently that much more must be done to safeguard women in the military. Labour needs to move urgently to fully implement the remaining recommendations in the 2021 Atherton Report. This is the least we owe to the women serving courageously across our services.

Children’s Bill: Labour vote against free school meals “deeply disappointing”

Responding to Labour voting against a Liberal Democrat amendment to automatically enrol eligible children for free school meals, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said:

It’s deeply disappointing to see Labour reject our plans to support families on the frontlines of the cost of living crisis by making sure no child goes hungry at school.

Labour’s backbenches know this is the right move, as does the Education Select Committee and families right across the country. It seems Ministers simply won’t listen.

The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for a fair deal for children and families across the country.

Scotland’s disease burden forecast to increase by more than half

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today said that people need a focus on preventative health care, including faster access to GPs, after new figures forecast an increase of more than half in Scotland’s disease burden for long-term conditions over the next 20 years.

The Scottish Burden of Disease study found that:

• The number of people living with atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm problem that increases the risk of a stroke) is estimated to increase by 56% by 2044.
• The number of people living with chronic liver disease is estimated to increase by 54% by 2044.
• The number of people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is estimated to increase by 63% by 2044.
• For all these conditions, the largest absolute change came for men and women over the age of 65 and there will be an increase in the non-fatal burden of these conditions.

Commenting on the figures, Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

These projections are a sobering reminder of the action needed to deal with an ageing population and an increase in complex health needs.

The SNP lack the vision and understanding to fix our NHS. Thanks to their mismanagement, patients are waiting a lifetime for treatment while staff are on their knees, burnt out on every shift.

Scottish Liberal Democrats are working hard to unpick years of SNP neglect, get everyone faster access to their GP, prioritise preventative care and ensure fast diagnosis and treatment. It’s essential to change the outlook for patients and staff and put our NHS back on a stable footing.