BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Scottish Liberal Democrat interim leader Alistair Carmichael has today highlighted new figures released by the House of Lords European Affairs Committee which reveal that only 2% of all applications for the EU Settlement Scheme were from people aged over 65, reigniting new concerns on the current status of EU nationals living in the UK.

Responding to the First Minister's announcement on self-isolation rules, Willie Rennie MSP said:

"I have been calling for something similar for some weeks as the risk of staff absence because of self-isolation is threatening to collapse essential public services like hospitals, GP surgeries and home care. That would have a significant impact on the health of people across the country.

Scottish Liberal Democrat interim leader Alistair Carmichael MP has today said the First Minister needs to introduce a test and release system for workers after British supermarkets warned that some products were in short supply and petrol stations had been forced to close.

Mr Carmichael said:

"Supermarkets are warning that supply chains are struggling and staff are not available to get produce onto shelves because so many workers are self-isolating.

Responding to reports in The Times that NearForm, the developer behind the Protect Scotland contact tracing app is developing a vaccine passport app for the Scottish Government, interim Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alistair Carmichael MP said:

"The First Minister and the Health Secretary have both expressed their scepticism about the effectiveness and the ethics of vaccine passports but while they mumble platitudes, their government has ploughed ahead with making this deeply divisive technology a reality.

Scottish Liberal Democrat energy spokesperson Liam McArthur has today warned that the Scottish Government needs to drive investment in electric car charging points beyond the central belt and said that a failure to do so risks driving people back to petrol and diesel cars.

A new Transport Scotland report published today notes:

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for DCMS, Jamie Stone, has today spoken against the privatisation of British television network Channel 4. This debate has been sparked following the news that the Government is currently consulting on a 'change of ownership' for Channel 4 and have stated their preferred option is full sale to private ownership.

Responding to the Health Secretary's interview on Good Morning Scotland this morning in which he denied the NHS was in crisis, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"There needs to be an honest acknowledgement that the NHS doesn't just need a post-Covid recovery plan, it needs a recovery plan from 14 years of SNP rule.

Scottish Liberal Democrat interim leader Alistair Carmichael has today said that Nicola Sturgeon needs to show some leadership and rule out domestic vaccine passports after another inconclusive media round failed to clarify whether the passports could be introduced in Scotland.

Yesterday Boris Johnson announced that "by the end of September, when all over-18s will have had their chance to be double jabbed, we are planning to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather."

Scottish Liberal Democrats have today [Tuesday 20th July] opened nominations for their next party leader.

Nominations will close on Friday 20th August. As well as requiring 10% support from the Scottish Parliamentary party, nominees are also required to obtain the support of 30 ordinary members from more than 5 local parties.

Willie Rennie MSP has today said that the launch of a fraud probe into SNP donations shows the need for an independent Director of Public Prosecutions, separate from the Lord Advocate's role as the Scottish Government's chief law officer.

Last week Police Scotland confirmed that it launched a fraud investigation after a series of complaints over donations made to the SNP.