• Police funding: Govt must address police chiefs’ concerns
• Land use framework: Govt struggles to understand rural communities
• Chris Philp: No-one can doubt his work ethic after he crashed the economy in 39 days
• Cole-Hamilton: After half a decade of Brexit damage, we need a UK-EU Customs Union deal
• Councillor and environmental campaigner selected to take on SNP in Edinburgh Northern
• Train fares to rise yet again

Police funding: Govt must address police chiefs’ concerns

Commenting on the Home Office pledge to invest an additional £100m for neighbourhood policing in England and Wales. This is after several forces have warned that they will have to make cuts this year, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Lisa Smart MP said:

This is just a drop in the ocean compared to what’s actually needed to restore proper community policing, after years of ineffective resourcing from the former Conservative government.

The Home Secretary needs to urgently address police chiefs’ concerns, who have been warning for months now about devastating budget shortfalls.

The government must step up to fix this by properly funding the officers our communities need – not passing the buck to local police chiefs to put up people’s council tax instead. Only then will communities see the proper frontline policing they need, with more bobbies on the beat stopping and solving crime.

Land use framework: Govt struggles to understand rural communities

Commenting on the government’s announcement of a new land use plan, Liberal Democrat Environment and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

After years of chaos under the former Conservative government, it’s clear that we need a strategic approach to fix our broken planning system and support British farmers, who are so vital for our economy and environment. Nonetheless, we must show caution in our optimism.

Labour has shown time and again that it struggles to understand rural communities.

Liberal Democrats will continue to be the voice in Parliament for farmers and rural communities. The talk of unproductive land in the government’s framework could pose a risk to hill farmers who need our help now more than ever.

Chris Philp: No-one can doubt his work ethic after he crashed the economy in 39 days

Responding to Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp’s claims that Britons need a better work ethic, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said:

No-one can doubt Chris Philp’s work ethic after he crashed the economy in just 39 days as Treasury minister under Liz Truss.

He also treated himself to a £5,000 taxpayer–funded handout after finally resigning from Boris Johnson’s government.

The British public will no doubt take his advice with a bucketload of salt.

The Conservatives could do with showing a bit more humility after trashing the economy and leaving the NHS on its knees.

Cole-Hamilton: After half a decade of Brexit damage, we need a UK-EU Customs Union deal

Marking five years since the UK left the European Union, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today said that we need a brand-new UK-EU Customs Union deal to boost the economy and tear down trade barriers.

Mr Cole-Hamilton highlighted his party’s plans during a campaign visit to East Dunbartonshire, one of the most pro-remain parts of Scotland, where 71.4% of people voted to remain within the EU during the 2016 Brexit Referendum.

Mr Cole-Hamilton is campaigning alongside Marthos Christoforou who is standing in the Kirikintilloch North and East and Twechar council by-election, triggered by Liberal Democrat MP Susan Murray’s election to Parliament.

Liberal Democrats are calling on the UK Government to form a Customs Union deal with the EU by 2030 at the latest.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

We cannot just sit by and watch the damage wrecked by Brexit go from bad to worse. The UK must be far more positive, ambitious and urgent in building back ties with our closest trading partners.

A Customs Union deal presents a key opportunity to turbocharge the economy- it’s why my party want to see the government negotiating one in the course of the next five years

We live in a world where the President installed in the White House has threatened tariffs and flirted with the idea of trade wars. We must show Trump that the UK has alternatives and won’t be bullied into taking whatever he offers us- to do that, we need a closer, stronger relationship with Europe.

The economic benefits of a Customs Union deal cannot be overstated. The UK Government should stop ruling it out, focus on working towards one and prioritise tearing down trade barriers that have already harmed so many businesses across the country.

Councillor and environmental campaigner selected to take on SNP in Edinburgh Northern

Scottish Liberal Democrats have today announced that local Councillor and environmental campaigner Sanne Dijkstra-Downie has been selected as the party’s candidate for its key target of Edinburgh Northern at next year’s Scottish Parliament election.

The seat has undergone significant boundary changes since the last Scottish Parliament election, with Ballot Box Scotland highlighting that Scottish Liberal Democrats won the area covered by the new seat in the 2022 local elections by 29.3% to the SNP’s 25.0%.

Sanne has lived in Edinburgh for 23 years, living in the constituency for 20 years with her husband and two children. In her professional life, Sanne raises money for charities that provide educational opportunities, and helped establish an ocean protection initiative.

She has a strong record of community action, speaking out to secure better cycling and pedestrian infrastructure and more protection for Wardie Bay. In 2022, Sanne was elected as an Edinburgh Councillor for Forth ward, topping the poll ahead of Scottish Labour’s then Edinburgh leader. She sits on the transport and environment and policy and sustainability committees.

Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh Northern said:

Ever since I came to Edinburgh to study 25 years ago, I have loved this city. It is my home and I am determined to be a hardworking champion for the people and communities that make up Edinburgh Northern.

Under the SNP, Edinburgh’s NHS waiting lists have grown, Scottish schools have tumbled down the international education rankings, and tens of thousands of litres of sewage have been dumped into the Firth of Forth.

I want to build on the successes of Liberal Democrats in the city, including party leader Alex Cole Hamilton MSP, Christine Jardine MP, and a 13-strong council group. It’s time for change. I will fight for the fair deal that Edinburgh Northern deserves.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

Sanne will be a great MSP. She has the experience and energy to represent Edinburgh Northern, and will speak up for residents on the issues that matter most.

At the next Scottish Parliament election, boundary changes redraw Edinburgh Northern. It’s clear that in that new seat, Sanne is the only person who will be able to challenge the SNP.

Train fares to rise yet again

Responding to the news that ScotRail will hike train fares by 3.8% from April 2025, with the cost of a return ticket between Glasgow and Edinburgh set to rise to £32.60, Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Daniel O’Malley said:

For almost three years, SNP ministers have been responsible for the trains. In that time, they have clobbered passengers with growing costs and endless disruption. No wonder people feel they’d be better off driving.

Scotland needs a cheap, reliable and frequent rail service – it’s a win-win for passengers and the planet.

My party will keep pressing the Scottish Government to explore new lines in areas with poor transport links. We’ve already persuaded them to look a lot more closely at a new train station for Newburgh in Fife.

Scottish Liberal Democrats would also create new options for two/ three-day-a-week season tickets, keeping costs down for passengers and giving them flexibility.