BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Responding to reports that EU citizens are being turned away from polling stations and denied a vote, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"It's so disappointing to see the large number of EU citizens wrongly denied the right to vote today. The government has totally failed in its duty to ensure that EU citizens' voices are heard.

"The Government must be held to account for this bureaucratic shambles."

Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has today hit out at the UK Government's strategy for reducing plastic pollution. Mr. Carmichael branded the plans as "unambitious" as he blasted the Government for taking until April 2020 to take meaningful action.

Commenting, Mr. Carmichael said:

"It is good to see that the Government finally conceded that there is a need to get serious about plastic pollution, but this plan is not ambitious enough to save our seas.

On a campaign visit to Edinburgh, as part of a final day tour criss-crossing the UK, Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable has today told a gathering of party activists that it is crystal clear that the Liberal Democrats are the party of Remain.

Vince Cable said:

"It is crystal clear that the Liberal Democrats are the party of Remain. Our support has being growing in recent weeks because we have a simple message: stop Brexit

Commenting on this morning's evidence session on the workplace parking levy, Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles MSP said:

"The amendment says that the burden of the tax falls on the occupier of premises, but it can also be expanded by ministers at any time to apply to whoever they like.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today said that mental health services at NHS Tayside have "catastrophically" failed patients and their families, after an independent inquiry at the health board revealed frequent use of restraint, patient concerns not being taken seriously until they tried to take their own lives and delayed decision-making.

Following the board meeting of the Scottish Police Authority, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

"While there have undoubtedly been improvements in the way that the SPA and Police Scotland are run, they were starting from a low baseline. Allowing the SPA and Police Scotland to mark their own homework was what got them into trouble in the first place. Susan Deacon should not begrudge elected representatives the opportunity to ask questions about reform of our policing organisations."

Following the news that another police force will conduct a review after Police Scotland found there was "wholly unsatisfactory and unprofessional" conduct within the former Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP commented:

"These events resembled scenes from Life on Mars. Chaotic filing was followed by officers being sent to buy an incinerator and petrol, taking documents to a wasteland by a river, then setting alight to them in a car park.

On a campaign visit to Water Ski & Wakeboard Scotland in Dunfermline, which saw him take to the water to illustrate the "wave of support" buoying Liberal Democrat candidates up and down the country, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has said voting for a Liberal Democrat candidate on Thursday is a vote to make the chaos of Brexit stop.

Scottish Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles today pressed the Transport Secretary on the huge increase in rail compensation claims, after it was revealed that ScotRail has seen a 72.8% increase in the amount of compensation being paid to customers, topping £1,119,818 for 2018/19.

Mike Rumbles stressed that despite three improvement plans in two years ScotRail is still failing to meet national targets on performance and customer service.

Responding to comments from SNP MEP Alyn Smith, that he is "agnostic" on what currency an independent Scotland would use, Scottish Liberal Democrat lead European election candidate Sheila Ritchie said:

"Perhaps Alyn Smith couldn't remember what the answer was supposed to be this week.

"SNP indecision and confusion will send shivers up the spine of everyone who lives and works in Scotland.