Category Archives: News

Greene: Offord must tell Scots if he’ll risk free prescriptions

By The Voice | Mon 13th April 2026 - 11:10 pm

Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Inverclyde, Jamie Greene, has called for Reform UK’s Malcom Offord to come clean on whether he would make Scots pay for medicine.

In 2025, Lord Offord wrote in a Centre for Policy Studies paper that “dialogue” was needed on making people in Scotland pay prescription charges.

Mr Greene claimed that it was Offord’s responsibility to tell the Scottish people exactly what the consequences of voting for Reform UK would be for hard-pressed Scots.

Reform’s UK boss Nigel Farage has a history of flirting with NHS charging and privatisation, once advocating that the health service moves …

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Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged jamie greene, NHS and reform uk | 2 Comments

Is Football losing its head?

By Jean-François Burford | Mon 13th April 2026 - 1:06 pm

English football likes to think of itself as the most competitive, compelling league system in the world. And in many ways, the Premier League still delivers on that promise every weekend. But financially, the game is drifting into something far less credible: a system where losses are disguised, rules are gamed, and profit increasingly exists only on paper.

The rise of intragroup sales is not a clever innovation. It is a symptom of a broken model. When clubs such as Newcastle United or Chelsea can transform massive losses into tidy profits by selling assets to companies owned by the same people, …

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Tagged football reform | 12 Comments

11-12 April 2026 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 12th April 2026 - 10:30 pm

Scot Lib Dems set out plans to improve childcare for working families
Scottish Lib Dems will fix NHS staffing as almost all GPs retiring early

Scot Lib Dems set out plans to improve childcare for working families

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today used a visit to a sports club in the Lothians to set out how his party will give parents more choice and help juggling work and family through funded early learning and childcare.

Scottish Liberal Democrats would ensure families can access flexible, affordable and fair early learning and childcare (ELC). As well as protecting the existing entitlements and ensuring …

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Wendy Chamberlain to run London Marathon

By The Voice | Sun 12th April 2026 - 2:15 pm

It says something about Wendy Chamberlain’s capacity for hard work that in amongst being Chief Whip, an energetic constituency MP, and running the Scottish elections that she’s going to be running the London Marathon two weeks today.

Here she is talking to Radio 5 Live about it this week:

Obviously we wish Wendy all the best in her endeavour, but we should all really put our money where our mouths are too. Wendy is using her run as an opportunity to raise money for two charities very close to her heart.

Wendy has been raising the issue of PANS PANDAS ever since a constituent came to her not long after she was elected. Donate here.

PANS PANDAS UK is a charity that was established by a dedicated group of parents with children that are affected by these conditions who were determined to make a difference to how these conditions are understood by both the general public and the medical profession.

I came across the conditions during my constituency work when I was contacted by a family who were struggling to support their daughter and navigating health and education challenges. I became a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for PANS PANDAs and led a debate in Parliament. Following the General Election in 2024 I secured a meeting for the charity with the relevant health minister.

Support for PANS PANDAS remains very patchy with families often dependent on having a supportive GP who is willing to consider the conditions as the cause of the very distressing symptoms that include OCD, tics, restrictive eating behaviours, anxiety and enuresis. The money raised from my maraton efforts will be used to support further research.

And we know from her Carer’s Leave Act how much supporting carers means to her. She is also raising money for Fife Carers’ Centre. Donate here.

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Tagged featured, london marathon and wendy chamberlain | Leave a comment

Ed Davey on Kuennsberg to talk about “Trump’s idiotic war” and need to act on food security

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 12th April 2026 - 12:15 pm

Ed Davey was interviewed by Victoria Derbyshire who was sitting in for Laura Kuennsberg this morning. He wanted to talk about our plan to ensure food security by giving a billion to England’s farmers and introduce a Good Food Bill in next month’s King’s Speech.

Unsurprisingly, though, the first question was about whether we supported the UK sending military help to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Ed said:

I think we should work with our international partners, particularly at the UN if possible but certainly with our allies in NATO and elsewhere and in the Gulf Region in particular to see whatever we can do to open the Strait of Hormuz. I think diplomacy would be the best way forward rather than using military assets.

“But you are not against it in principle if it’s with other countries?” asked Derbyshire.

Well, I’d start with diplomacy. You have to open the Strait of Hormuz for the world economy, for British families and businesses who are suffering. This idiotic war prosecuted by Donald Trump and PM Netanyahu, initially supported by Kemi Bademoch and Nigel Farage, let’s not forget, has been a total disaster. It was so predictable and no doubt many American experts would have counselled the President against this. And let me give some praise to our Prime Minister. He was right to keep us out of this war. We’ve argued from the get-go that he should have stood up to Trump far earlier on the economy and defence and all these foreign policy issues.

We have already asked the Government for pressing for a price cap and a three-month VAT holiday to cut the cost of heating oil as well as an emergency Fuel Duty cut that would bring the cost of red diesel used by UK farmers down by around £5 million over the next three months.

We are also calling for a £1 billion increase in the farming budget to support British farmers to produce food sustainably and profitably, and for farm payments to recognise food security as a public good. Currently, England is the only country in Europe that doesn’t use its farm payments scheme to support food security. In the interview, Ed said EU rather than Europe. If only…

Ahead of the interview, Ed had said:

Donald Trump’s idiotic war with Iran – cheered on by Reform and the Conservatives – is squeezing British families from every direction: at the pump, on their energy bills, and now in the supermarket. In such an unstable world, Britain needs to become much more self-sufficient, especially when it comes to food.

That is why we are calling for a Good Food Bill in the King’s Speech, to put food security at the heart of the government’s agenda, back British farmers to produce food sustainably and profitably, and make sure everyone can afford the food they need.

The last Conservative Government disastrously undermined Britain’s food security, undercutting our world-class farmers with botched funding and bad trade deals. Labour has shown it doesn’t understand the rural economy, with their terrible mess over the family farm tax.

Only the Liberal Democrats are standing up for British farmers and British food production. It is crazy that England is the only place in Europe where farm payments don’t recognise the importance of food security. That has to change.”

Derbyshire pressed him at length on how exactly this would bring food prices down urgently and how our cut on VAT would be paid for and wouldn’t accept that the Government is already raking in extra tax as the oil price is going through the roof.

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Tagged ed davey, food security, fuel, iran war and victoria derbyshire | 8 Comments

10 April 2026 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 10th April 2026 - 10:30 pm

Cole-Hamilton comments on declining nursing applications
Cole-Hamilton sets out plan to “fix the damn roads”

Cole-Hamilton comments on declining nursing applications

Responding to an embargoed report by the Royal College of Nursing about a falling number of applications for nursing courses, with over 1,000 fewer people applying to study nursing in 2025 compared to 2019, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

For nineteen years, the SNP have made a dog’s dinner of NHS staffing. These gaps stretch all the way back to Nicola Sturgeon cutting nursing training places and claiming that was sensible.

Such a drastic fall in the number of people applying to

…

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ALDC by-election report, 9th April

By Joe Nutt | Fri 10th April 2026 - 5:07 pm

There was only one principal council by-election this week. The count took place on Friday morning, so the result didn’t filter through until later on Friday afternoon.

Kent County Council, Cliftonville

The Green Party has taken the seat of Cliftonville in Kent from Reform UK. This result was perhaps inevitable given the turmoil surrounding the previous holder; having only won the seat last year amidst a wave of Reform gains from the Conservatives, the incumbent councillor was suspended by Reform following a guilty plea in February regarding a domestic incident, which ultimately triggered this by-election.

Beyond the individual conduct of the former councillor, the wider Reform administration in Kent is increasingly defined by instability. The local leadership has been plagued by internal infighting with leaked footage online showing disputes between backbenchers and the leadership. This was followed by a series of defections to Rupert Lowe’s splinter group, Restore UK. They’ve also had to U-turn on their flagship pledge to cut council tax earlier this year.

Local commentators framed this contest as a referendum on Reform’s chaotic performance. In this instance, the Green Party successfully consolidated the anti-Reform vote to deliver that message, with the Liberal Democrats starting from an extremely low base in this particular ward.

A big thank you to Mo Shafaei and the team for their hard work in ensuring there was a Liberal Democrat choice on the ballot.

Green Party: 2,068, 38.8% (+26.7)
Reform UK: 1,767, 33.1% (-7.0)
Conservatives: 811, 15.2% (-4.5)
Labour: 557, 10.4% (-11.6)
Independents: 68, 1.3% (New)
Liberal Democrats: 63, 1.2%(-1.9)

Green Party GAIN from Reform

Turnout: 32%

A full summary of the results, and all other principal council by-elections, can be found on the ALDC by-elections page here.

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Tagged aldc local government by-elections | 6 Comments

9 April 2026 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 9th April 2026 - 10:40 pm

Cole-Hamilton sets out plan for a skills revolution
Scot Lib Dems call for investment in affordable housing in Mid Scotland & Fife

Cole-Hamilton sets out plan for a skills revolution

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today set out plans for a skills revolution as he met with young scientists at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh today.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats will:

Create a new industrial strategy that focuses on what we’re really good at and what we can be good at, and throw the weight and levers of government behind businesses that can help us achieve greater success in life sciences, energy, food and drink, fintech and financial services, defence and more.
Develop a new skills strategy, mapping where the gaps are and will be, and fitting training and education systems around it, so that the country secures the skills it needs in everything from social care to engineering and construction.
Repair Scotland’s colleges and vocational skills system, and safeguard the future of our world-leading universities.

In the recent budget negotiations, the party secured £70m to start to repair the damage that the SNP have inflicted on the college sector – a 10% budget increase. The party has also secured money to save Corseford College, Scotland’s first college for young adults with complex & additional needs and campaigned to save facilities for Scotland’s rural college in Fife.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

Scottish education just isn’t what it used to be. We used to have one of the best education systems in the world, but under the SNP it is now just average. The whole education system isn’t producing the range and depth of skills that businesses and our economy need. It’s ridiculous that the Scottish defence industry is having to hire 300 welders from the Philippines.

Our plan will invest in education at every stage, starting from a young age and continuing throughout adulthood. We want every child to get the support and attention they need at school, so they leave with the skills, confidence and resilience to be happy and successful, whatever they choose to do next.

We will repair Scotland’s colleges and vocational skills system, and safeguard the future of our world-leading universities so that we can deliver a skills revolution.

Unlike the SNP, Scottish Liberal Democrats would get ahead of the curve instead of waiting to pick up the pieces, making the most of Scotland’s homegrown skills, engineering supply chains and natural advantages.

If you believe Scotland needs change, then every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach ballot will deliver change with fairness at its heart. Scotland deserves better. And with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you can vote for it.

Scot Lib Dems call for investment in affordable housing in Mid Scotland & Fife

Scottish Liberal Democrat lead candidate for Mid Scotland & Fife, councillor Claire McLaren has today called on the Scottish Government to invest in affordable housing in Stirling, Perth & Kinross, Clackmannanshire and Fife as she revealed that the number of homes completed has fallen by a third over the past two years.

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8 April 2026 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 8th April 2026 - 11:20 pm

Cole-Hamilton takes on judo champ and pledges to restore Highland services
Cole-Hamilton: Time to beg UK Government and European operators for vessels for Dunkirk-style effort to tackle ferry crisis
Greene: Scottish Tory economy plans show they are the ‘nasty party’ again

Cole-Hamilton takes on judo champ and pledges to restore Highland services

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today tried his hand at judo alongside former Commonwealth medallist, British champion and Highland councillor Connie Ramsay, as he set out his party’s pledge to restore services to Highland communities.

In September 2025, Connie Ramsay won a Highland Council by-election for the Scottish Liberal Democrats with 38.8% of the vote, taking a seat previously held by the SNP.

In their forthcoming manifesto, the party will commit to “end the era of SNP centralisation” by:

Increasing the range of NHS services available locally;
Ensuring decisions about health services are taken as close as possible to the communities they affect and that any reform does not result in top-down centralisation;
Treating councils as equal partners with multi-year funding deals and new freedoms to innovate.
The party has continually campaigned for the restoration of consultant-led maternity services in the Far North. The party also forced the SNP’s bureaucratic ministerial takeover of social care out of the Scottish Budget after ministers threw away £30 million – equivalent to the annual salary of 1200 care workers, and money that could have been spent helping people like Margaret MacGill who Alex visited yesterday.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

Our country works best when decisions are taken as close as possible to those they affect. Right now, people don’t feel like they are being listened to or that they have the means to roll up their sleeves, do things differently and change their area for the better.

Almost two decades of SNP centralisation has drained local communities of the ability to shape their own future. Care homes and maternity services are just some of the facilities that have gone as a consequence. The viability of some rural and remote areas is being threatened by the lack of public transport, the ferries fiasco, the housing emergency and skills shortages.

Scottish Liberal Democrats know that every place has its own character, its own needs and priorities. We will shift power out of Holyrood and into local hands, so you can get on with improving where you live without waiting for the say-so of ministers in Edinburgh. From city centres to remote islands, and everything in between, we’ll make sure your area has the services and opportunity to live, work and raise a family.

Wherever you are, every Scottish Liberal Democrat elected in target constituencies like Caithness, Sutherland & Ross, and through the peach regional ballot paper, will deliver change with fairness at its heart.

Cole-Hamilton: Time to beg UK Government and European operators for vessels for Dunkirk-style effort to tackle ferry crisis

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today said that John Swinney should be on the phone begging the UK Government and ferry operators around Europe for extra boats to alleviate the ferry crisis.

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Updated: Should Lib Dems change our line on Trump?

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 8th April 2026 - 9:25 am

So, we can breathe again. For a few days at least.

But it’s more likely than not that we will be back up at the top of this hill again in a fortnight.

And if Trump’s behaviour over the tariffs is repeated, he’ll up the ante with even more offensive language and we’ll go from deadline to deadline.

To see the leader of the free world openly threatening genocide (“A civilisation will die tonight”) and war crimes attacking civilian infrastructure was horrifying.

The bit that made me gulp was when the White House denied that he was planning to use nuclear weapons. I lived through a fair chunk of the Cold War. I was too young for the existential terror of the Cuban Missile Crisis but I never felt that we were likely to experience the Four Minute Warning imminently however frightening the Protect and Survive videos were.

I’m wondering if the Lib Dems should develop what we are saying in response to a President who is threatening the unthinkable. Ed Davey could never be accused of being timid on Trump but our response to his expletive laden rant on Easter Sunday was two days late and issued at pretty much the same time as the Labour Government announced it would do as we were asking.

UPDATE: I have had my wrist slapped for the above for missing Ed’s comment put out on social media on Sunday evening so it is only fair to add it in here.

Should we be calling for the US Ambassador to be dragged in to Downing Street and given an absolute carpetting? Should we not be calling for the UK Government to introduce a whole list of sanctions, in concert with our European partners, if Trump goes any further? The US is a rogue state now and should be treated like one.

We should certainly renew our calls for the King’s State visit to the States at the end of this month to be at the very least postponed. It would not be a good look for our head of state to be receiving hospitality at potentially the same time as Trump is threatening or even committing war crimes?

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Tagged donald trump, ed davey, international, iran and us | 10 Comments

Cole-Hamilton: I want to fix delayed discharge, gain four new Highland and Island seats and send the SNP packing

By Mark Valladares | Wed 8th April 2026 - 7:30 am

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has used a visit to Wick to set out how his party can win four additional constituency seats in the Highlands and Islands from the SNP and to launch his party’s plans to tackle delayed discharge.

Mr Cole-Hamilton was in Wick to meet Margaret MacGill who is just home after being stuck in hospital for a year when she didn’t need or want to be there – a case he repeatedly raised at First Minister’s Questions.

Margaret was first admitted to Raigmore Hospital in November 2024 with a rare spinal condition, before moving to the Town and County Hospital in Wick in February 2025. Despite being assessed as fit to leave hospital, she was unable to do so because there were no carers able to drop in and help her. She finally returned home last month after her family arranged private care, having been told that otherwise she would have to remain in hospital for another year.

New figures published by Public Health Scotland show that at the February 2026 census, there were 1,939 people whose discharge from hospital was delayed. In February 2026, there were also 55,547 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed. This is 2% more than the number of delayed days in February 2025 (54,487).

In their forthcoming manifesto, Scottish Liberal Democrats will set out plans to make careers in social care more attractive and value experienced staff to improve retention by:

Creating new dedicated key worker housing for carers and other eligible workers, so the housing crisis doesn’t stop people taking up posts.
Rewarding care workers through national bargaining on pay and conditions, fair work and a career ladder that boosts their skills and respects their experience at every step.
Change to a 7-day discharge model so people aren’t kept in hospital just because it is a weekend.
Using the NHS App to help people to arrange welfare power of attorney, so they don’t become trapped in hospital down the line.

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Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton and highlands and islands | 1 Comment

7 April 2026 – today’s press releases (part 2)

By Mark Valladares | Tue 7th April 2026 - 11:25 pm

Greene: Tories too chaotic to stand up to Swinney
Chamberlain: UK at risk of complicity in war crimes
Islanders will not be fooled by Swinney in “full on panic mode”

Greene: Tories too chaotic to stand up to Swinney

Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Jamie Greene has said the Scottish Tories are “too chaotic” under Russell Findlay’s leadership to stand up to the SNP.

His comments come after Findlay launched his party’s manifesto in Edinburgh.

Mr Greene resigned from the Conservatives in 2025, accusing Findlay and his leadership of pandering to the far-right in his attempts to compete with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Greene, …

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Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged alan reid, ferry service, jamie greene, scottish conservatives, us attack on iran, war crimes and wendy chamberlain | Leave a comment

7 April 2026 – today’s press releases (part 1)

By Mark Valladares | Tue 7th April 2026 - 10:55 pm

Cole-Hamilton: Last chance for Parliament to address ferry fiasco
Greene: Scottish Government must get a grip on MV Glen Sannox fiasco
“Dangerously naive” Green candidate wants to abolish prison
Worst February ever for A&E waits
Greene comments on defence jobs warnings

Cole-Hamilton: Last chance for Parliament to address ferry fiasco

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today said that this is the “last chance” for MSPs to convene at Holyrood and find a solution to Scotland’s acute ferry crisis, which has seen multiple vessels out of service all at once.

His call comes ahead of the Scottish Parliament officially dissolving for this year’s election on Thursday morning.

Four major ferries have been called in for technical works in the last few weeks, leaving several key routes almost entirely unserved and cutting people off from supplies, services and jobs — and just yesterday, CalMac cancelled two services because the just-reintroduced Glen Sannox is experiencing fuel pump problems.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

That so many ferries have been forced into repairs at the same time is an outrage, and a sorry demonstration of the SNP’s dire neglect of the ferry fleet.

The point of having a Scottish Parliament is to be able to tackle the problems facing our country, but the SNP have refused to come back to Holyrood to sort out this fiasco.

Liberal Democrats believe that parliament should be the place to get things done for people. This is the last chance for John Swinney to come back to Holyrood and help these communities through the crisis the SNP have left them to face.

Alan Reid, Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Argyll and Bute, added:

As someone who was themselves nearly left stranded by the recent breakdowns, I want to see the Scottish government step up and sort this crisis out.

While it is good news that MV Lord of the Isles is set to return to service, this near-collapse of the fleet has left folk who depend on ferries worried that the same could happen again with little or no warning.

The ferries fiasco is the result of 19 years of incompetent and unaccountable government under the SNP. As Scotland prepares to pass judgment on his legacy, John Swinney has a chance to prove that he cares more about coastal and island communities than he does about his own re-election campaign.

Whether or not he reconvenes parliament, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have a plan to fix our broken ferry system and mak(e sure the government is held to account for its performance. That’s what we’re offering Scots the chance to vote for on 7th May.

Greene: Scottish Government must get a grip on MV Glen Sannox fiasco

Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Jamie Greene has called on the SNP to finally get to grips with the troubled MV Glen Sannox ferry service between Troon and Arran.

The Glen Sannox has been put out of action again with reported engine trouble, described by CalMac as a “recurring technical issue,” leaving coastal and island communities stranded.

The vessel has been plagued with problems and cancellations since finally coming into service in 2025, seven years later than scheduled and four times over budget.

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Campaigner to take part in Kiltwalk to raise money for Scottish Autism

By The Voice | Tue 7th April 2026 - 4:41 pm

Lib Dem campaigner, Michael Gregori, is taking part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk on Sunday, 26th April, in support of Scottish Autism — one of Scotland’s leading charities dedicated to supporting autistic people and their families.

The Glasgow Kiltwalk brings together thousands of participants from across Scotland each year. Walkers take on routes through the heart of the city to raise funds and awareness for causes close to their hearts. Every penny donated and every mile walked goes toward strengthening local charities and the communities they serve.

By participating in the event, Michael Gregori aims to raise vital funds and shine a light on the invaluable work Scottish Autism does every day to enhance the quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum. The charity provides essential care, education, advocacy, and support services to both autistic people and their families across Scotland.

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ALDC by-election report, 2nd April

By Joe Nutt | Fri 3rd April 2026 - 1:51 pm

There were four principal council by-elections this week, of which all but one had a Liberal Democrat candidate on the ballot. One council seat was being defended by us.

North Devon Council, Fremington

In North Devon, the Liberal Democrats gained a seat from the Independents in Fremington. It should be noted that in 2023, both seats were won by Independents, before Councillor Frank Biederman joined the Liberal Democrats. The by-election was triggered by the sad passing of his ward colleague, who remained as an independent.

Without any independents standing this time, it would seem there was a lot of unknowns in where the vote would go for this time. In this context, not only did the Liberal Democrats manage to fend off Reform and prevent the Greens from establishing themselves as the progressive alternative, but they also increased their vote share by more than any other party. This is particularly impressive when we’re used to seeing these big swings to Reform in other by-elections from a standing start.

A huge congratulations to Cllr Jayne Mackie and the team on running such a successful campaign.

Liberal Democrats: 752 – 49.9% (+42.4)
Reform UK: 496 – 32.9% (new)
Green Party: 131 – 8.7% (New)
Conservatives: 116 – 7.7% (-4.4)
Labour: 12 – 0.8% (-7.8)

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Independents

Turnout: 34.7%

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Tagged aldc local government by-elections | 10 Comments

2 April 2026 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 2nd April 2026 - 10:30 pm

SNP set to miss key child poverty target
Welsh Lib Dems urge Reeves to scrap fuel duty hike as global instability drives rising petrol prices
Cole-Hamilton sets out mental health plan with visit to therapy llamas
Greene: Reform set to lose 26 constituency candidates by polling day, figures show
Murray: Lib Dem 10p fuel duty cut will get Scotland moving again
Welsh Lib Dems slam Reform’s “fantasy” coal plans as a threat to jobs, bills and climate
Reform candidate’s Ukraine comments spark outrage as Lib Dems warn of “dangerous” pro-Kremlin rhetoric

SNP set to miss key child poverty target

Responding to IFS analysis which indicates that Scotland is on course to miss its target to reduce relative child poverty to below 10% by 2030-31 “by a considerable margin”, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Jamie Greene MSP said:

Despite the grand rhetoric from the SNP, they have left thousands of children in poverty.

For the past nineteen years, the SNP have failed to use the powers they have had at their disposal to move the dial.

Just like Nicola Sturgeon broke her promise to close the attainment gap, John Swinney has broken his promise to reduce child poverty. They simply cannot be trusted.

Scottish Liberal Democrats are focused on tackling the root causes of child poverty, and everyone in Scotland has the chance to vote for these plans by backing us on your peach, regional ballot paper in May.

Welsh Lib Dems urge Reeves to scrap fuel duty hike as global instability drives rising petrol prices

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on Labour to cancel their planned fuel duty increase, warning that continued instability in the Middle East is already driving up global oil prices and risks placing further pressure on households and businesses across Wales.

The intervention comes as forecourts begin to reflect rising wholesale costs, with industry experts warning that sustained geopolitical tensions could keep prices elevated in the weeks ahead. Edmund King, President of the AA, has previously warned that such instability would “inevitably lead to price hikes,” with sharp increases often feeding through to drivers within days.

Labour’s planned changes would see fuel duty rise for the first time in 15 years, beginning with a 1p increase in September, followed by further rises through to 2027. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have warned that pressing ahead with the increase at a time of heightened global uncertainty would compound cost-of-living pressures, particularly in areas where people have little choice but to drive.

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Also posted in Press releases, Scotland and Wales | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, child poverty, coal mining, david chadwick, fuel duty, jamie greene, jane dodds, mental health, reform uk and susan murray | 5 Comments

1 April 2026 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 1st April 2026 - 10:30 pm

9 in 10 new primary teachers don’t have full-time permanent work
Cole-Hamilton: We will save small business from SNP rates wrecking ball
Welsh Lib Dems urge Government to put small and local firms first in public contracts

9 in 10 new primary teachers don’t have full-time permanent work

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP has today said that the SNP have “broken promise after promise to teachers and children”, as new figures show that 9 in 10 post-induction primary school teachers didn’t have full-time, permanent employment in 2025.

New figures show that between 2018/19 and 2024/25:

The percentage of post-induction primary teachers in full-time, permanent employment dropped from 30.3% to 10.8%.
The percentage of post-induction primary teachers in part-time, temporary employment has increased from 16.8% to 38.1%.
The percentage of post-induction secondary teachers in full-time, permanent employment has fallen from 57.9% to 42.5%.
The percentage of post-induction secondary teachers in part-time, temporary employment has increased from 2.9% to 5.3%.

Willie Rennie MSP said:

It is abysmal that 9 in 10 new primary school teachers can’t get full-time, permanent employment.

The SNP have broken promise after promise to teachers and children, with huge numbers of secondary and primary teachers now stuck on temporary contracts.

What a huge waste of talent when young people need good teachers more than ever, when their schooling was turned upside down by Covid and when far too many pupils with additional needs are not being properly supported.

I have met so many teachers who have been forced out of the profession because they can’t make ends meet and are tired of lurching between short-term work.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have got a realistic plan to give teachers proper, stable contracts, instead of short-term and zero hours work, so we can get Scottish education back to its best. You can vote for that by backing us on your second, peach-coloured, regional ballot paper in May.

Cole-Hamilton: We will save small business from SNP rates wrecking ball

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today used a visit to the Far From The Madding Crowd book shop in Linlithgow to set out how his party is standing in the way of the SNP’s business rates wrecking ball and to reveal a package of new measures to support high streets.

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Also posted in Press releases, Scotland and Wales | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, jane dodds, public contracts, small businesses, teachers and willie rennie | 2 Comments

The Davey Dilemma

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 1st April 2026 - 9:49 am

Party strategists are pondering an offer from the BBC which could have a serious impact on our party’s fortunes.

Ed Davey has been invited to appear on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Those in favour of the move argue that appearing on the programme could boost Ed’s popularity and, with it, the party’s electoral success as well as cheering up the nation.

It’s ten years since his namesake, former Labour Cabinet Minister Ed Balls, achieved national treasure status after his hilarious efforts on the show, performing Gangnam Style with great aplomb.

It’s just over fifteen years since our then Deputy Leader Vince Cable performed a stunning foxtrot in the Strictly Christmas special with professional dancer Erin Boag. At the time, Euan Ferguson wrote in the Guardian:

Vince was the man who made sense of the downturn: had warned, had made even more sense of it than Robert Peston. A Liberal Democrat with cojones and charisma, and a fine line in ballroom dancing. His appearance on the special should have been a coronation, a culmination: the most astounding year in living memory for his party and then a foxy foxtrot with Erin Boag.

The BBC hope that Ed’s appearance could help revive the show, retaining and increasing its audience after a time of instability following negative media stories and the departure of popular hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. The surprise news that several audience favourite professional dancers including Karen Hauer and Nadiya Bychkova are leaving also poses another threat to the show.

However, Ed’s dancing at Spring Conference in York came in for criticism amongst a small but vocal minority of party members, so our version of the Tories’ “men in grey suits” are concerned that they could become a distraction and there could even be an attempt by critics to submit an emergency motion calling for his withdrawal at his Party’s Autumn Conference which would be launching at the same time as the rally.

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Tagged ed davey and party strategy | 13 Comments

31 March 2026 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Tue 31st March 2026 - 10:30 pm

Recall Parliament to address ferry crisis say Scottish Liberal Democrats

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today called for the Scottish Parliament to be recalled to address the crisis engulfing Scotland’s ferry network as communities in Argyll & Bute and up and down the west coast face yet more upheaval, with up to eight ferries out of action.

The Scottish Parliament can be recalled up until 8th April.

Mr Cole-Hamilton made the comments as he and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey visited the key target seat of Strathkelvin & Bearsden to play tennis with community activist and candidate Adam Harley and local …

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Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged 2026 scottish parliament elections, adam harley, Alex Cole-Hamilton, ed davey, ferry service and susan murray | Leave a comment

30 March 2026 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 30th March 2026 - 10:30 pm

Teacher numbers in STEM subjects fall by 900
606 fewer modern language teachers than when SNP came to power
Greens scrapping road projects will kill Highland communities
Greene: Calamity Kemi should apologise for cheerleading Iran War which is sending prices soaring
If you’ve been to A&E, you shouldn’t trust Swinney

Teacher numbers in STEM subjects fall by 900

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP has accused the SNP of “playing fast and loose” with Scotland’s economic future, as new figures revealed there are 900 fewer teachers in STEM subjects than when the SNP first came to power

New figures show that between 2008 and 2025:

The

…

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Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged accident and emergency, foreign languages, jamie greene, neil alexander, roads, scottish conservatives, STEM, susan murray, teachers and willie rennie | 1 Comment

Welcome to my day: 30 March 2026 – the most random elections ever?

By Mark Valladares | Mon 30th March 2026 - 7:27 am

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another Monday morning. No, really, it’s not that bad…

Polling day is getting ever closer and predictions on how the various parties will get on are beginning to emerge, as Mark Pack has noted. I’m of the view that it’s harder and harder to make predictions based on national data, and that, as we saw in the 2024 General Election, voters will make decisions based on who they think the best alternative is where they are. Where Liberal Democrats are active, they’re likely to be seen as the best bet to keep Reform out, but even the Conservatives are claiming that voters are turning to them to keep Reform out. As the Guardian reports in an article about Conservative prospects on 7 May;

One MP suggests that tactical voting could boost the party’s results. “On the doorsteps I’ve had quite a lot of people say things like: ‘I’m normally a Lib Dem, but it’s you versus Reform here, and I want to keep Reform out at all costs, so I’ll vote for you.’

And, of course, in urban areas, there is a definite turn against Labour, outflanked to the left by the Greens and, perhaps, the Liberal Democrats, losing support to the Conservatives in places like North West London, and to Reform in predominantly white, working class areas. For some voters, the decision of who do vote for to give Labour a kicking and keep Reform out is going to be a challenging one. And, with rather lower turnouts than for national elections, what enthuses voters to come out om polling day will be key.

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Tagged 2026 local elections, postal voting, proxy voting and us attack on iran | 2 Comments

WATCH: Hina Bokhari speak to yesterday’s Together Alliance march in London

By The Voice | Sun 29th March 2026 - 2:03 pm

Yesterday, Together Alliance, a coalition of civil society groups aimed at standing up to the far right held a march in London at which our Leader in the London Assembly, Hina Bokhari, spoke.

Watch her speech here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hina Bokhari OBE AM (@hinabokharild)

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Tagged hina bokhari, islamaphobia and racism | 8 Comments

Thank you, Beatrice

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 29th March 2026 - 11:45 am

As the Scottish elections get underway, we know that one of our five MSPs will definitely not be returning to Holyrood. Elected in a 2019 by-election, Beatrice Wishart announced some time ago that she would be standing down at this election. Since then, she has been Shetland’s voice in Holyrood, standing up for the islands and for women’s rights and safety.

This week, she made her final speech at Holyrood summing up the problems that islanders face with transport, affordable housing and connectivity.

She finished by urging future MSPs to work together constructively across party.

Enjoy.

The full text is below:

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Tagged beatrice wishart, holyrood, Scotland and shetland | Leave a comment

27 March 2026 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 27th March 2026 - 10:30 pm

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.

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Also posted in Europe / International and Scotland | Tagged 2026 scottish parliament elections, Alex Cole-Hamilton and anti-corruption | Leave a comment

ALDC by-election report, 26th March

By Joe Nutt | Fri 27th March 2026 - 3:03 pm

There were four principal council by-elections this week, of which all had a Liberal Democrat candidate on the ballot. One council seat was being defended by us.

Disappointingly, we lost this Oxfordshire seat to the Conservatives. It appeared to be down to a collapse in our own share of the vote, rather than any substantial uplift in the Conservative vote. The silver lining is that we managed to hold back Reform, who finished in third place, setting the Liberal Democrats up as the main challenger next time. Commiserations to Alan Bettridge and the local Liberal Democrat team.

Vale of White Horse District Council, Stanford
Conservative: 666 (45.9%, +2.5)
Liberal Democrats (Adrian Bettridge): 395 (27.2%, -17)
Reform UK: 261 (18%, new)
Green Party: 115 (7.9%, -4.5)
Labour: 14 (1%, new)

Conservative GAIN from Liberal Democrats

Turnout: 43.4%

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Tagged aldc local government by-elections | 12 Comments

New pilot schemes aim to make voting easier but…

By Mark Valladares | Fri 27th March 2026 - 12:15 pm

I don’t know about you, but the news that the Government had announced four pilot schemes to make voting “easier and more convenient” during this year’s local elections had rather passed me by.

To quote the release from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government;

In Milton Keynes, voters can have their say in the city’s main shopping centre – Midsummer Place – rather than being restricted to a single designated polling station. This could eventually be rolled out across the country in future elections along high streets and in town centres.

People in Cambridge, Tunbridge Wells and North Hertfordshire

…

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Tagged 2026 local elections, early voting and voting reform | 1 Comment

26 March 2026 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 26th March 2026 - 10:30 pm

Scottish Liberal Democrats launch election campaign in seat they will take from SNP
Greene comments on Reform’s Scottish campaign collapse
Greene comments on latest wave of ferry chaos
Labour missing golden opportunity to set up Port Talbot industrial supply chain
EU-US Turnberry deal: Renew Europe backs Parliament’s firm mandate

Scottish Liberal Democrats launch election campaign in seat they will take from SNP

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today launched his party’s campaign, setting out how his party can win ten constituencies to deprive the SNP of a majority and win big on the peach regional ballot in order to get more done in the next parliamentary term.

Speaking at the launch at Newhaven harbour, Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

We know you feel let down by the other parties.

We think Scotland deserves better than this. But it needs to be change with fairness at its heart.

Scotland has so much going for it. But right now, it feels like our country simply isn’t working.

Household bills are soaring. The long waits to see your GP. The national embarrassment of the ferries fiasco. And Scottish education just isn’t what it used to be.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats believe Scotland deserves better than this. We believe in fairness for everyone, no matter who you are or where you come from. That’s why we have a realistic plan to get things done: delivering first-rate health care, helping you with the cost of living, getting Scotland moving again, and getting Scottish education back to its best.

I’m bursting with excitement for the campaign ahead. I will be travelling all over our country letting people know that the Liberal Democrats are winning again, with more councillors, a record number of MPs and more to come.

Let me be straight with you. You have two votes. In many constituencies like Edinburgh Northern, we are on the verge of winning against the SNP. Our victories can deny them the parliamentary majority that John Swinney craves. Equally importantly, wherever you are, every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach ballot will deliver MSPs committed to delivering change with fairness at its heart.

Scotland deserves better. And with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you can vote for it.

Greene comments on Reform’s Scottish campaign collapse

Responding to the news that two more Reform UK Holyrood election candidates have withdrawn their candidacies this morning — bringing the party’s total number of dropouts to four — Scottish Liberal Democrat Jamie Greene MSP said:

As the wheels continue to come off Reform’s Scottish campaign, Lord Offord continues to prove he and his party should be nowhere near politics or power.

Two candidates have dropped out because of ‘administrative errors’, one because of shady business dealings during Covid, and another after calling Humza Yousaf an ‘Islamist moron’. Good riddance, yes, but it’s not enough.

We found out this week that Lord Offord has a vile sense of ‘humour’ that makes him unfit for public office, while another Reform candidate is still standing despite having publicly backed Tommy Robinson.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there are yet more skeletons in the closet and candidates dropping out in the coming weeks.

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Also posted in Europe / International, Press releases, Scotland and Wales | Tagged alex cole-hamilton. scottish parliament elections 2016, david chadwick, eu-us trade, ferry service, industrial policy, jamie greene, reform uk and tariffs | 1 Comment

25 March 2026 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 25th March 2026 - 10:30 pm

More than 17,000 children waiting longer than a year in temporary accommodation
David Chadwick calls for Government action to protect Rural Community Transport Schemes
Greene: Aspiring politicians must campaign with decency
Greene: Offord and Reform should reject secretive crypto donations
Collien Fernandes: Renew Europe calls for EU action to close loopholes on AI deepfake abuse

More than 17,000 children waiting longer than a year in temporary accommodation

Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson and Central Scotland candidate Paul McGarry has today accused the SNP of “catastrophic neglect” as he published figures showing that over the past five years, there have been more than 17,000 children trapped in temporary accommodation for more than a year.

A Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information to every Scottish council asked for the number of children stuck in temporary accommodation for over twelve months in every year since 2020.

Of the 30 councils which provided the data, the responses show that:

Between 2020 and 2025, a total of 17,811 children were trapped in temporary accommodation for longer than a year.
This included a total of 10,147 children in Edinburgh and 3,742 children in Glasgow.
In 2024, 3,504 children waited over a year in temporary accommodation- the highest level of the five-year period.
Between January and October 2025, 3,126 children waited over a year in temporary accommodation.

It comes amid separate figures showing that the number of children currently in temporary accommodation has a reached a new record, rising to 10,480.

Scottish Liberal Democrat Paul McGarry said:

These figures lay bare the SNP’s catastrophic neglect.

As Housing Secretary, Mairi McAllan was supposed to offer a fresh start, but things have gone from bad to worse. Housing is clearly not a priority for the SNP.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out a realistic plan to tackle a lack of availability and poor-quality homes.

We want to see change with fairness at its heart, which starts by confronting the housing crisis head-on: getting more homes built, maximising existing stock and giving everyone a safe place to call home.

If you are disgusted by the SNP’s failure to build enough homes, no matter where you are, you can back Scottish Liberal Democrats on the peach regional ballot paper at May’s election and deliver the change that Scotland needs.

David Chadwick calls for Government action to protect Rural Community Transport Schemes

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick has called on UK Government ministers to urgently update outdated mileage rates for volunteer drivers which haven’t been updated since 2011, warning that community transport services across rural Wales are under growing pressure from rising costs.

Speaking in a debate on support for voluntary groups and community centres, Mr Chadwick highlighted the vital role community transport plays in keeping rural communities connected, particularly for older residents and those without access to a car.

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Also posted in Europe / International, Press releases, Scotland and Wales | Tagged AI deepfake, child protection, courtesy, cryptocurrency, david chadwick, jamie greene, paul mcgarry, political donations, rural transport and valérie hayer | 3 Comments

Liberator 434 is out!

By The Liberator Collective | Wed 25th March 2026 - 9:25 am

Liberator 434 is out and you can download it for free here.

You can also sign up for an email when each new Liberator comes out here.

What’s in this issue?

There’s Commentary, Radical Bulletin, Letters, Lord Bonkers’ Diary and:

WHY AREN’T THE LIB DEMS DOING BETTER?

Pursuing remaining Tory seats puts a ceiling on Lib Dem ambitions when greater opportunities lie among left-leaning voters, argues Paul Hindley

SPREADING POWER

Radical change is needed to defend what we value most, says Roz Savage MP

FIX THE NHS FRONT DOOR

An over-stretched health service must be rebuilt from community level, says Helen Maguire MP

BITING BACK AGAINST THE LOAN SHARKS

Policy on student loans seriously damaged the Coalition and it’s got worse since. Paula Widdowson says it’s time to rectify the mistakes

LET’S SOLVE STUDENT DEBT

Younger Lib Dem MPs and councillors should lead efforts to recover the trust of graduates saddled with huge repayments, says Isaac Tucker

A RAINBOW TO BEAT REFORM

The Lib Dems should formally work with other parties to ward off Reform, says Sophie Layton

UKRAINE STANDS ITS GROUND

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Tagged liberator | 2 Comments

Elections kick off – six exhilarating weeks ahead

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 25th March 2026 - 8:36 am

It’s that time of year again. My social media feeds are all full of pictures of groups of people out canvassing or leafletting, of people handing in their nomination papers.

It must be the start of the “official” campaign for the huge array of national and local elections coming up on May 7th.

The Scottish Parliament, the Senedd in Wales and every Council seat in London is up for grabs along with local elections around the country from Liverpool to some places where they didn’t know until a few weeks ago that the elections were back on again.

I have to show you …

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Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged 2026 local elections, 2026 scottish parliament elections, 2026 senedd elections, david green, ed davey and featured | 3 Comments