BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Speaking ahead of his party's spring conference next weekend, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today said that this conference is a chance to show that sharp elbows and consistent campaigning can change public policy and that liberal ideas can help everyone to achieve their potential, as he highlighted new policy proposals on closing the attainment gap, early years education and supporting survivors of domestic abuse.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has today warned that "we still have no clarity around how people's rights will be protected" as a series of letters between Police Scotland, the Crown Office and the Scottish Parliament's Sub-Committee on Policing highlighted lingering concerns over the legality of Police Scotland's cyber kiosks.

Jamie Stone, MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross and Scottish Affairs spokesperson has today backed young people who are striking over climate change.

Inspired by 16 year old Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg, who held a solo protest outside the Swedish Parliament, this movement has now seen protests from 70,000 schoolchildren each week across 270 towns and cities worldwide.

Jamie Stone, Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross and Scottish Affairs spokesperson, has today criticised RBS for their poor customer service.

On a day where RBS announced that profits more than doubled to £1.62bn in 2018, the bank has been ranked bottom of an official survey of customers' satisfaction with their banks.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today unveiled project manager and former NGO worker Jill Reilly as the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for Edinburgh East.

As a project manager, Jill has worked in both the public and private sector, including healthcare, transport, justice and financial services. Currently she is managing a programme of work at Standard Life Assurance.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles has today called for the Scottish Government to end their stonewalling and tell Parliament whether they are actively considering another independence referendum without a section 30 order.

After Scottish Government ministers previously refused to provide answers, Mr Rumbles wrote to the Lord Advocate asking whether such measures were under consideration and what their legal implications would be. Responding, Lord Advocate James Wolffe declined to provide information on legal advice he may have provided and recommended asking the Scottish Government about the issues raised.

Responding to Andrew Wilson's column on independence in the National, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"With Brexit, the SNP have spent two years setting out the arguments against themselves.

"They have slowly come round to the idea of a people's vote as it dawned on them that having close ties with our neighbours is a good thing and severing old unions is a tough and fruitless task.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today written to the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority, the Justice Secretary and the Chief Constable about proposed changes to staff pay and conditions at Police Scotland call centres which he warned would "further threaten the stability and morale of the service centres".

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today condemned "Conservative neglect and Labour compliance" as a new report from Scotland's Chief Economist warned that Brexit uncertainty is impacting on key economic indicators and a no-deal scenario would lead to a 'major dislocation' to the Scottish economy.

Exports of Scotch whisky hit a record high last year according to analysis of HMRC data by the Scotch Whisky Association published today.

Figures show that the European Union remained the largest region for exports, accounting for 30% of global value and 36% of volume.

Commenting on the figures, Jamie Stone MP, Liberal Democrat Scottish Affairs spokesperson said: