BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Commenting on the Scottish Government's response to the report from the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"There are a number of sensible proposals in this report that the Scottish Government have taken on board but overall it is a recipe for ticking along, not one for firing up the economy.

Commenting on the new restrictions set to be imposed in Aberdeen, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"The risk with easing the lockdown was always that fresh outbreaks would arise and have to be dealt with. Caution is the correct response that we support so we cannot afford to let our guard down.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today written to the First Minister to criticise the use moderations methods which he warned "has shackled well performing pupils in average schools by historical results over which they have had no control".

Mr Rennie warned "I cannot fathom why there was no early transparency, scrutiny and discussion of the complex methodology used by the Scottish Qualifications Agency that has led to this injustice on a such large scale" and called for an expanded appeals process and immediate discussions with universities and colleges about the admissions criteria and deadlines to ensure that pupils disadvantaged do not lose out on sought after places.

Commenting as pupils in Scotland receive their exam results today, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Beatrice Wishart MSP said:

"First of all, I would like to say congratulations to everyone receiving results today. You have all worked incredibly hard in circumstances that have never been faced before. You should be very proud of the work that you have put in. We also owe our thanks to all the teachers who have striven to support pupils at this difficult time.

Ahead of the publication of exam results next Tuesday, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Beatrice Wishart MSP has today warned the Education Secretary about teacher and student anxiety over "unexpected, upsetting or unfair" exam results, as it is revealed schools and colleges have been excluded from the moderation process because of time constraints.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today pressed the First Minister over whether students arriving at Scottish universities will be tested for Covid-19.

His call comes as Professor and Chair of Global Public Health at Edinburgh University Devi Sridhar said: "To re-open safely, universities have to... Test all students on arrival & 5 days later."

Responding to new analysis released by the ONS, which confirms Scotland had the third highest level of excess deaths in Europe for the first half of 2020, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"These statistics paint a devastating picture of the toll the coronavirus has taken on communities across Scotland.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today urged the First Minister to clear up whether staff in cafes, pubs and restaurants should be wearing face coverings. He has made the call after the First Minister reprimanded some businesses for failing to ensure staff were wearing face coverings despite the government's guidance and the law not requiring it.

Commenting on last night's BBC Scotland Disclosure programme, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today demanded the First Minister withdraw support for the expansion of Heathrow, stressing that the project is "fundamentally incompatible" with a green recovery from the coronavirus and "endangering the climate".

In response to a parliamentary question this week, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Michael Matheson, stated: "Yes, we remain committed to the memorandum of understanding between the Scottish Government and Heathrow."