• Lib Dems demand release of Venezuela legal advice as Starmer again refuses to say whether Trump breached international law
• Cole-Hamilton: Scotland deserves better than old divisions
• Cole-Hamilton responds to World Cup bank holiday
• Lib Dems raise alarm after Conservative Shadow Minister hints they would cut free bus passes for over-60s in Wales

Lib Dems demand release of Venezuela legal advice as Starmer again refuses to say whether Trump breached international law

The Lib Dems are calling on the Government to publish any legal advice it has received on breaches of international law by the United States in its strikes on Venezuela and kidnapping of Nicolas Maduro, as Starmer has again refused to be drawn on the legality of Trump’s move.

The Prime Minister has today again refused to say whether the US’s strikes on Venezuela broke international law.

The Liberal Democrats’ call comes after Ed Davey’s condemnation of the strikes on Venezuela and his criticism of Starmer’s hesitancy, saying such an approach gives Trump licence for hostilities against other sovereign countries.

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller MP said:

Trump’s interventions in Venezuela are surely in violation of international law – yet our tight-lipped Prime Minister is refusing to call that out.

Rather than give the British public the information they deserve about such a brazen attack by the President of the United States, Downing Street is giving him cover by pleading the fifth. That’s the wrong approach.

The Government must release any legal advice they hold on whether or not President Trump has broken international law. If he has, the British people deserve to know.

Cole-Hamilton: Scotland deserves better than old divisions

Responding to John Swinney’s interview on BBC Radio Scotland earlier today, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

John Swinney is stoking old divisions because he cannot deliver for people in the here and now. The SNP are trying to distract everyone with the squirrel of separation; Scotland deserves better.

My party have got a realistic plan to get everyone the healthcare they need when they need it, bring down bills, give every child the best start in life and fix our ferries and roads to get Scotland moving again.

In many constituencies, we are on the verge of winning against the SNP, but wherever you are, every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach ballot paper will deliver change with fairness at its heart.

Cole-Hamilton responds to World Cup bank holiday

Responding to the announcement that there will be a public holiday to mark Scotland’s men’s national team playing at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

The Scottish Government needs to go further to help make sure pubs get late-night licenses to show the Scotland games.

Your local grassroots rugby or tennis club should be allowed to open up too because I’m sure their members would pack them out, even at 2am.

We’ve already had fantastic support from the pub trade for our proposals. It’s time to make this a summer to remember.

Lib Dems raise alarm after Conservative Shadow Minister hints they would cut free bus passes for over-60s in Wales

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have slammed comments by the Conservatives suggesting they would scrap free bus passes for people aged over 60 in Wales, branding the party “hopelessly out of touch” and warning the move would hit older people’s independence, squeeze household budgets, and isolate rural communities.

The remarks were made by Conservative Shadow Transport Minister Jerome Mayhew following questioning by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon during a Westminster debate on extending free bus travel for people over 60 in England. Mr Mayhew’s comments implied that a future Conservative government in Wales could move to end or restrict free bus passes for over-60s following the Senedd elections in May.

Responding to the debate, Mr Mayhew said that “government funds are limited” and that “the blanket increase in 100% subsidies for a cohort that is mainly in employment doesn’t pass the test”.

In Wales, free concessionary bus travel is currently available to residents aged 60 or over, as well as eligible disabled people and some injured service personnel. The scheme is delivered through the Welsh Concessionary Travel Card system and is widely used across both urban and rural parts of the country.

Since 2025, all under-21-year-olds in Wales have also been entitled to £1 bus fares, following a funding agreement secured by Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats say that free bus travel plays a central role in daily life for thousands of older people, enabling access to GP and hospital appointments, shops, social activities, libraries, caring responsibilities and volunteering. For many over-60s, particularly those who no longer drive, it is the difference between remaining active and independent or being cut off from their community altogether. In rural areas, where distances are greater and transport alternatives are limited, any restriction would have especially serious consequences.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said:

The Conservatives are hopelessly out of touch. Free bus passes for over-60s aren’t a luxury, they’re a lifeline. They keep people independent, connected and active in their communities, especially in rural areas like mine.

Any move to take that away would be a backwards step that punishes older people for political choices they didn’t make.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will fight any proposals by the Conservatives to curb free bus travel for over-60s every step of the way.