Still no luck with HQ press releases, I’m afraid, but nonetheless…

• Scottish Liberal Democrats can win in every corner of Scotland
• Historic Anti-Corruption Law adopted: Liberals and Democrats increase protection for citizens and democracy

Scottish Liberal Democrats can win in every corner of Scotland

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today continued his party’s speedy start to the election campaign by speeding up the Clyde in a powerboat as he set out how his party can win seats on the peach regional ballot in every corner of Scotland and how more Liberal Democrat MSPs will get more done in the next parliamentary term.

Mr Cole-Hamilton highlighted his party’s achievements in the Scottish Parliament including:

• Fresh support for high street businesses struggling with the cost of living
• A 10% increase in the college budget to produce the skills our economy and public services need
• Investment to speed up autism and ADHD assessments
• Millions for hospices so they can attract and retain staff
• Young entrepreneurs being backed to take their idea to the next level
• New facilities for new mothers and babies born addicted drugs
• Cash for flood-stricken families and businesses in Fife when the government turned its back
• More money for ferries in the Northern Isles
• Suzanne’s Law and Michelle’s Law, strengthening the rights of victims and their families
• Money restored to the housing budget after it was cut by the Greens and SNP
• Family carers have the right to earn more
• Work restarted on Edinburgh’s Eye Hospital and the Belford in Fort William

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

We’re making a speedy start to this campaign because Scottish Liberal Democrats believe in getting things done.

There are some political parties which only fire out angry press releases, oppose everything for opposition’s sake, and achieve absolutely nothing for their constituents. There is another way of doing things. Budget by budget, bill by bill, case by case, we care to use our leverage as MSPs to deliver change with fairness at its heart.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have shown that we are serious about getting you the fair deal you deserve. There is a long list of changes that we have won for our constituents and for Scotland as a whole. The more MSPs we have, the more we can get done, like delivering more GPs, dentists and mental health professionals near you.

This election is your chance to elect local champions and win the change our country desperately needs. We can gain more constituencies from the SNP than any other party. But wherever you are, you can have an MSP who will get stuff done by backing the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach regional ballot.

Historic Anti-Corruption Law adopted: Liberals and Democrats increase protection for citizens and democracy

Renew Europe welcomes today’s final adoption by the European Parliament of the new EU anti-corruption law, marking the successful conclusion of interinstitutional negotiations and delivering tougher sanctions, stronger prevention and greater protection for citizens and journalists across Europe.

Corruption costs Europeans billions every year. It distorts fair competition, weakens public services, erodes trust in governments and undermines democracy itself. With this vote, the European Parliament sends a clear message: there will be no safe havens for corruption in Europe.

Responding, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Renew Europe MEP, Netherlands, Democraten 66, said:

This law is about a Europe where journalists can work without fear, and where public systems serve citizens, not insiders. This directive brings us closer to a Europe where corruption cannot decide who gets a job, a permit, or justice. A Europe where citizens can trust their institutions again. That is the Europe we want to build.”

“This law is historic. Corruption has caused journalists to be silenced, citizens to be killed, lives cut short. Behind every statistic is a name, a story, and a future denied. Corruption also drains billions from our economies, erodes trust in government, and undermines democracy itself. Left unchecked, it threatens the very foundation of our Union. This law is about defending Europe at its core and delivering for our citizens.

The new law sets common minimum standards across the European Union on corruption offences and penalties, including bribery in the public and private sectors, misappropriation, trading in influence, obstruction of justice and illicit enrichment. It strengthens enforcement by ensuring authorities have sufficient time to investigate complex cases and by improving investigative tools.

In practical terms, this means that if a company wins a public contract because it paid a bribe, or if someone is denied a job or a permit because they refused to pay one, authorities across the EU will now have clearer legal definitions, more time to build cases and stronger penalties to ensure corruption does not go unpunished.

Member States will also be required to reassess their anti-corruption systems, reinforce them where they fall short and develop comprehensive national strategies to prevent corruption at its roots. By aligning sanctions across the Union, the new framework prevents a race to the bottom while enabling judges to impose stronger, genuinely dissuasive penalties. By setting higher common standards, the law contributes to a safer Europe for citizens and journalists, but also for businesses and investors.