• Improving maternity care must be a key priority for the new government
• Rennie responds to new Audit Scotland college report
• Cole-Hamilton urges First Minister to act on antisocial driving
• Cole-Hamilton attacks “vast” pay off to water industry boss

Improving maternity care must be a key priority for the new government

Responding to the Care Quality Commission’s report into maternity care services, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Helen Morgan said:

The ongoing postcode lottery of maternity care must end. That means raising standards across the board and making sure that no mother or baby is put at unnecessary risk.

Unsafe staffing levels and practices can have tragic consequences, as so many families across the country have experienced first hand.

Despite several reviews and inquiries, this new CQC report makes clear that much more progress needs to be made.

Improving maternity care must be a key priority for the new government as it seeks to address the broader crisis in our healthcare system.

Rennie responds to new Audit Scotland college report

Responding to a new Audit Scotland report which warns that colleges may not be able to offer the same learning experience to students as in the past and that further staff cuts are on the horizon, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie said:

College budgets have been first in line for the axe for years now. Figures from the Scottish Funding Council show that the SNP cut resource funding for colleges by 4.8% in the 2024-25 budget, hot on the heels of a real-terms reduction in funding of 8.5% over the previous two financial years.

The SNP’s neglect of further education has contributed to our wider economic malaise and it makes clear that ministers do not see colleges, their staff and students as a priority.

Colleges have a key role to play in providing people with the skills they need to flourish in key sectors like insulating homes, food and drink, tourism, social care and nursery education.

Scotland won’t reach its economic potential without a thriving college sector.

Cole-Hamilton urges First Minister to act on antisocial driving

Speaking during this afternoon’s session of First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

Presiding Officer, last night I chaired a packed town hall meeting in South Queensferry.

For four years, my constituents have had their quality of life destroyed by hundreds of high performance, illegally modified cars and motorbikes racing around their beautiful town.

The drivers of these vehicles will abuse and intimidate anyone who approaches them where they gather, in the car park at the foot of the iconic Forth Bridge. Pets have been killed, hotels have lost trade, nobody is getting any sleep.

Residents like pensioner Andy Scott are really worried about road safety.

In fact, just as our meeting was concluding, there was a collision right outside our venue with a motorcyclist rushed to hospital. Police are appealing for information about that.

The racing and antisocial behaviour is happening in Inverness, parts of Glasgow, Crail, many other areas.

Will the First Minister meet with me and agree to establish a national taskforce to establish and examine what more can be done to address this criminal behaviour that is blighting so many lives?

Cole-Hamilton attacks “vast” pay off to water industry boss

Responding to the news that the former chief executive of Scotland’s water regulator was allowed to stand down with six months’ pay despite revelations about spending that included hundreds of pounds of meals claimed on expenses and a nearly £80,000 Harvard training course for a senior manager, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

There seems to be a total lack of shame about throwing away vast sums of taxpayers’ money.

The Audit Scotland report was among the most damning as any I have ever read, yet stepping down with six months of a gigantic salary hardly feels like a punishment at all.

The more time the water industry spend in the spotlight, the grubbier it all seems.