• Davey: Starmer should visit new Canadian PM and stand in solidarity against Trump “turning the screws” on Canada
• Chamberlain: Remove barriers for women by supporting unpaid carers
• Cole-Hamilton: Long Covid still harming lives five years since pandemic
• Rennie demands urgency as half of Scotland’s universities fall into deficit

Davey: Starmer should visit new Canadian PM and stand in solidarity against Trump “turning the screws” on Canada

As Mark Carney is announced the new leader of Canada, Ed Davey has called on Starmer to head to Ottawa to stand in solidarity with the country’s new Prime Minister in response to Trump’s threats against Canada.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has offered his “warmest congratulations” to the new Canadian PM, Mark Carney. He celebrated the joint Commonwealth history of the two nations, including their shared monarch.

He has also called on Keir Starmer to fly to Canada this week as a show of support, as Trump continues to threaten the imposition of tariffs on Canadian products – as well as on steel and aluminium imports, including from the UK, later this week. Trump has also continued to make alarming comments about wanting to turn Canada into America’s ‘51st State’.

It’s vital for both British and Canadian security that the Commonwealth allies “stand strong together”, Davey said – urging Starmer to show a “united front” against Donald Trump’s “senseless” threats against Canada’s sovereignty and economy.

Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:

I would like to express my warmest congratulations to the new leader of Canada, Mark Carney. We treasure Canada’s historic relationship with the UK and I look forward to our two nations’ ties becoming ever stronger during your premiership.

It’s vital for both British and Canadian security that we stand strong together. With global instability rising, it’s never been more important to show a united front with our Commonwealth friends – and to stand together against Trump senselessly turning the screws on his allies, whether that’s Canada, the UK or Europe.

Responding to the trade war along the North American border, our Prime Minister must stand in solidarity against Trump’s bullying and visit Ottawa in a joint show of strength. Starmer must be clear that Trump’s threats against Commonwealth nations’ sovereignty are unacceptable.

Chamberlain: Remove barriers for women by supporting unpaid carers

Speaking on International Women’s Day, Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain MP has pledged to improve support for unpaid carers in order to tackle gender inequality across society, as she highlighted that the majority of Scotland’s unpaid carers are female.

According to the Scottish Government’s 2023-24 Carers Census survey, 73% of all unpaid carers are female.

A 2023 survey from Care Scotland found that a third of female unpaid carers have given up employment to care. A further 55% said that their physical health has suffered as a result of their caring role, while 81% felt stressed or anxious because of it.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have brought forward a series of measures to help unpaid carers across the country, including through Ms Chamberlain’s Carer’s Leave Act.

The party now wants to see measures to expand respite for unpaid carers as part of a package of proposals that will form part of the party’s Scottish election manifesto.

Wendy Chamberlain said:

On International Women’s Day I want to recognise the work of the many women across Scotland who provide unpaid care and support day after day. Unpaid carers are the backbone of society. Their love and commitment, however, comes at a significant emotional and economic cost. They are too often forgotten and ignored.

In Scotland, as in the rest of the UK, women make up almost three quarters of unpaid cares and we need to recognize this if we are to tackle the inequalities facing so many women and girls today.

Scottish Liberal Democrats are the party of care. I am so proud to have passed the Carer’s Leave Act, which allows unpaid carers to better balance work and caring responsibilities. In recent budget negotiations with the Scottish Government, my party worked hard to secure a right for family carers to earn more. But there is still a long way to go.

We need to give unpaid carers the fair deal they deserve. One way to do this would be to expand support for carer’s respite, allowing women who care to take a well-deserved break, supporting their wellbeing and driving down inequalities.

Cole-Hamilton: Long Covid still harming lives five years since pandemic

Speaking five years on since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton today (Sunday 9th March) commemorated those who lost their lives, paid tribute to NHS staff and communities and called on the Scottish Government to fulfil a funding commitment for Long Covid sufferers.

Five years on from the pandemic, thousands of Scots are still suffering from Long Covid. More than 80% of them say that the condition has adversely affected their ability to undertake day-to-day activities.

A 2024 Cambridge Econometrics report, The Economic Impact of Long Covid in the UK, estimated that Long Covid, ‘may have macroeconomic costs of some £1.5bn of GDP each year’. The report also indicates that, ‘lower employment of around 138,000 by 2030 follows as a consequence’.

Adjusted for Scotland’s share of the UK population, this suggested a yearly economic impact of £120m and 11,000 jobs by 2030.

In recent budget negotiations, Scottish Liberal Democrats secured millions more in funding for dedicated support for Long Covid sufferers.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

Today, my thoughts are with the victims of the pandemic, with their families and loved ones. It was a devastating moment in our country’s history: it marked a time of loss and sacrifice in communities throughout Scotland.

In the years since, we have seen the concerning emergence of conditions like Long Covid. This illness may be the biggest mass-disabling event since World War I, but Scotland is miles behind the rest of the UK in terms of the care pathways offered to sufferers.

That’s why it was right that the Scottish Government listened to Liberal Democrat demands for brand new services and announced funding for specialist nursing and clinic support in the budget. These will support those with Long Covid, alongside those with ME, Chronic Fatigue and other similar conditions.

That’s not just the right thing to do for individuals struggling with debilitating conditions, it’s good for our economy too.

Liberal Democrats will be eagle-eyed to ensure that this money finally makes its way to helping those suffering all across Scotland.

Rennie demands urgency as half of Scotland’s universities fall into deficit

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP has today called on the Scottish Government to move with urgency to secure sustainable funding for Scotland’s universities as new analysis indicated that almost half of the country’s higher education institutions fell into deficit in 2024.

A 2024 report from PwC previously said ten of Scotland’s 15 universities were at risk of falling into a financial deficit by 2027. However analysis of university accounts and public statements suggests that among the 18 institutions where students can study for degrees in Scotland, seven of them have recorded a deficit in 2024. Dundee University’s accounts remain unpublished but have suggested they may face a £25-30m deficit in the year ahead.

Even the institutions which did not record a deficit last year recorded far smaller surpluses than in previous years.

The analysis follows public statements from University of Edinburgh indicating that they expect a £140m deficit over the next 18 months unless action is taken.

Commenting on the figures, Willie Rennie said:

Scotland’s world class universities produce talented graduates, important research and good jobs across the country, but without action now, Scottish higher education is not sustainable.

The previous model of relying on income from international students to subsidise domestic students is all but dead thanks to changes in the global economy.

Greater geopolitical upheaval could easily send the system over the precipice.

When I pressed Graeme Dey at education committee to commit to a discussion on sustainable funding he agreed. This effort must now proceed with urgency.

I know that Universities Scotland are working hard on this issue, whilst the Royal Society of Edinburgh are hosting an event.

We are now past the point where the SNP can just point at Scotland’s lack of tuition fees and declare the conversation over higher education over. If both free tuition and the sustainability of our higher education institutions are to be maintained, now is the time to step up.