BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has today used a rally in Edinburgh marking the start of the final week of the campaign to attack Boris Johnson and the SNP for attempting to divide our family of nations.

Jo Swinson said:

"I am a proud Scot. I was born in Glasgow, grew up in Milngavie, and have represented the people of East Dunbartonshire for over twelve years.

Responding to the news that Susan Deacon has quit as the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority, telling the Justice Secretary that "the governance and accountability arrangements for policing in Scotland are fundamentally flawed in culture, structure and practice", Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP commented:

With one week to go until polling day, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson will address activists at a rally in Edinburgh and warn that there is the threat of a fresh Scottish independence referendum unless the Liberal Democrats defeat nationalist MPs at the forthcoming election.

Jo Swinson is expected to say:

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today declared that voters in key seats across Scotland can help to stop another independence referendum.

On a campaign stop in Tain in the constituency of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Mr Rennie said:

"On December 12^th, voters will have a choice between local champions like Jamie Stone and divisive nationalists who will use your vote to push for another independence referendum.

Commenting on new analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies which says that implementing the SNP's general election manifesto in an independent Scotland would lead to deeper austerity than under the Conservatives, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie commented:

"The IFS is unconvinced by the SNP's spending plans.

Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson will today (Tuesday 3rd December) call on Boris Johnson to use this week's meetings with Trump to commit to protecting UK farmers and consumers from a post-Brexit Trump trade deal.

Leaked documents from the ongoing US-UK trade deal talks revealed American officials are pushing for the UK to allow greater use of chemicals in food production, including chlorine-washing chicken and growth hormones in beef cattle. The US negotiators have said that maintaining the UK's current high standards for food production was 'the worst-case scenario', adding that in a no deal Brexit there would be 'all to play for.'

In addition, the US team agreed to share their 'public lines' on chlorine-washed chicken to help UK officials try to sell the controversial practice to British consumers.

The Liberal Democrats have also highlighted the threat Brexit poses to British farmers, including the loss of EU financial support, tariffs for the 80% of UK agricultural products that are traded with the EU and labour shortages due to the end of free movement. The Liberal Democrats will stop Brexit to protect British farmers and launch a National Food Strategy to promote the production and consumption of healthy, sustainable and affordable food.

Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson said:

"Boris Johnson's Brexit plans threaten to put our farmers out of business, through crippling tariffs for exports to the EU and labour shortages that would leave food rotting in the fields.

"To make matters worse, Johnson's desperation for a post-Brexit trade deal with Donald Trump means UK farmers risk being undercut by low-standard imports from the US.

"Boris Johnson must give a guarantee that our farmers and world-leading food standards will not be sacrificed on the altar of a Trump trade deal.

"Only the Liberal Democrats have a plan to stop Brexit so we can build a brighter future for British farmers and consumers. We will protect the vital supply chains that we rely on to put fresh food on the table, and uphold the high standards in food production that are the pride of our farming sector."

Responding to the news that just 64.5% of children and young people are being seen within 18 weeks for mental health treatment, the worst performance ever recorded, with 806 children and young people waiting over a year, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:

Responding to the news that Scotland has recorded its worst ever results for science and maths in the PISA international comparison of education systems across the world, with England performing better in every measure, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie commented:

"John Swinney can't hide from these appalling results.Scotland used to have one of the best education systems in the world, but under the SNP its now just average.

Responding to the news that performance against the A&E waiting time target has further fallen to its lowest level since March 2018, with only 83.8% of patients treated within 4 hours compared to the 95% target, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:

"A&E performance has continued to plummet this December as doctors and nurses battle to solve the mounting winter crisis without the resources or staff they so urgently need.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today warned that Scottish independence would be bad for business as he visited the Fudge Kitchen in Edinburgh.

Mr Rennie said:

"Independence would be like Brexit on steroids. It would mean a huge blow to the economy and less money for public services.