BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie today showed the Scottish Government stooping to deliberately confusing parents in a desperate effort to quash the parental boycott of national tests for five-year-olds, after advice issued to them yesterday was shown to conflict that given internally by the top civil servant in charge of the national testing system.

Commenting on reports that the delivery of two new ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides network has been delayed again and that the vessels, which were originally due this summer, are not now due until Summer 2019 and Spring 2020 respectively, Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles MSP said:

Responding to the announcement from Rosemount Medical Group in Aberdeen that they will close in January after being unable to fill staff vacancies, North East MSP Mike Rumbles said

"The SNP's poor handling of workforce planning has left GP surgeries high and dry, unable to find the skilled people they need. Staff and patients deserve better.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has today called on the Scottish Government to scrap the merger of British Transport Police into Police Scotland, saying it is the "last thing" the new Chief Constable needs.

As opposition parties urged the SNP Government to change course, Mr McArthur said:

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP today revealed that health boards have sent scans to external providers for analysis 400,000 times since 2015/16, with the number increasing year-on-year, as he warned that radiology was facing a "staffing drought" in Scotland.

The revelation comes in the week that the chair of the Royal College of Radiologists warned that the NHS was on "red alert" due to a shortage of qualified doctors.

Commenting on the appointment of Iain Livingstone as the new Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"Iain Livingstone now inherits, on a permanent basis, an organisation that faces a wide range of challenges.

"Officers recently warned that they are so stretched that beat policing has 'effectively died off entirely' in some areas while everything about the merger of the British Transport Police points to it needing to be halted.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today warned Richard Leonard and Nicola Sturgeon that they are out of step with the people of Scotland as the largest poll of Scotland's attitudes to Brexit since the EU referendum two years ago shows opposition to leaving has strengthened and there is now overwhelming backing for a People's Vote on the outcome of negotiations.

Commenting on new figures showing that the Scottish economy has grown by just 1.3% in the past year, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Carolyn Caddick said:

"Derek MacKay is getting rather overexcited over growth of just 1.3% in a year, while Scotland's productivity continues to lag behind.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today backed a campaign by children's charities, parents' groups and teaching unions inviting parents to withdraw their children from primary 1 tests of literacy and numeracy.

The campaign, organised by the Upstart Scotland charity will dispatch 30,000 postcards across the country providing parents with a clear means to withdraw their children from tests.

Responding to new figures showing that rail fares are set to rise by 3.2% inline with the RPI rate of inflation from January next year, Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles MSP said:

"The last thing hard up passengers need is another year of rail fare rises soaring above wage increases. People are spending more of their money than ever just to get too and from work.