Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey yesterday declared that the wind is in the party’s sails as they took to the water on a visit in Edinburgh.

After sailing a boat under the iconic Forth bridges, the party leaders set out their desire to “smash the Scottish Conservatives and dismantle the acid yellow wall of the SNP” to a horde of party activists.

The party is targeting ten constituency seats across Scotland having proven that it can gain seats from the SNP, while taking seats on the peach regional ballot paper by targeting moderate voters shocked by the Scottish Conservatives’ lurch to the right to fend off Reform UK.

Ed Davey said:

I’m delighted to be here in Scotland to help Alex kick off the Scottish campaign.

The Liberal Democrats have the wind in our sails. At the general election we had the best result in the history of our party. In Scotland we gained four seats from the SNP and now we are back for more. We want everyone who has a Liberal Democrat MP to gain a Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP. But what is really important about this election is that, 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 paper.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

The Liberal Democrats have got the wind in our sails.

Ed Davey’s demolition of the blue wall symbolised our party’s massive success at the general election. At this Scottish election, I want to smash the Scottish Conservatives and dismantle the acid yellow wall of the SNP.

The SNP have been in power too long. They are not focused on healthcare and the cost of living like they should be.

Meanwhile, there are so many former Conservative voters who are scunnered by the party’s lurch to the right to fend off Reform. We can win the support of people who don’t want a nasty party.

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 will deliver change with fairness at its heart.

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

The party’s top ten constituency target seats are:

• Edinburgh Northern
• Edinburgh North Western
• Caithness, Sutherland & Ross
• Inverness & Nairn
• Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch
• Argyll & Bute
• Strathkelvin & Bearsden
• Shetland
• Orkney
• Fife North East