BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has welcomed regulations laid in Parliament today which announce that the Victim Surcharge will apply to crimes committed on or after 25 November 2019 but criticised the fact that it will be six years since Parliament approved legislation by the time any payments from the fund are made.

Responding to the new report from the Auditor General confirming that Scotland's prisons are overcrowded, violence is rising and financial pressures are compromising efforts to support and prepare prisoners for life outside prison, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today warned that the Conservatives have been "caught red handed" doctoring documents to downplay the risk of food and medicine shortages as a result of a no deal Brexit.

On 11 September, Michael Gove tweeted that "Yellowhammer is a reasonable worst case scenario NOT our base case of what will happen".

Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Willie Rennie will address the Edinburgh University Liberal Democrat club and set out the challenges pro-Europeans face as we approach 31^st October.

He will use the speech to highlight the unavoidable decision all moderate Conservatives must now take, on whether or not to support the Prime Minister's reckless agenda and stress that those who don't follow Amber Rudd and resign the Conservative whip will be complicit in Boris Johnson's extreme course of action.

Responding to this afternoon's debate on establishing a Citizens' Assembly, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"There is obviously a role for deliberative democracy in Scotland and if the SNP were serious about forging consensus on climate change, we would gladly take part.

"Sadly this Citizens' Assembly is nothing more than an attempt to sew some new patches on the SNP's dodgy case for independence.

Following a legal appeal by Jo Swinson, Joanna Cherry and a group of cross-party MPS, Scotland's highest civil court has ruled that Boris Johnson's suspension of the UK Parliament is unlawful.

Commenting Scottish Affairs spokesperson Jamie Stone MP said:

"A proper functioning democracy depends on the proper rule of law. I am not above it, no one is above it - least of all Boris Johnson. This is a truly shocking state of affairs.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has urged the Health Secretary to use her statement later today on the "fiasco" of the Sick Kids hospital to "come clean" on exactly what went wrong and when the hospital will finally be operational.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has urged the Health Secretary to use her statement later today on the "fiasco" of the Sick Kids hospital to "come clean" on exactly what went wrong and when the hospital will finally be operational.

Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles MSP has today criticised Transport Secretary Michael Matheson for his evasive answers as Mr Rumbles pressed him over links between the US military, the Scottish Government owned Prestwick airport and Donald Trump's Turnberry resort.

Speaking after the exchange Mr Rumbles said:

Commenting on the new OECD report Education at a Glance which confirms that Scotland's teachers work some of the longest hours in the world, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Beatrice Wishart MSP said:

"When teachers are spending so much of their time in front of the class, they do not have time for marking, lesson prep or the personal development that helps them to continue improving as teachers. Teachers want to be at their best but this doesn't help.

Commenting on today's employment statistics which show that Scotland now has a higher unemployment rate and a lower employment rate than the UK average, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"This is a worrying spike in Scottish unemployment. SNP ministers need to spend more time on the long term economy and less on their independence campaign.