BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Today Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable has called on the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to join him in televised Leaders' debates ahead of the EU election.

Cable stated that a proper debate is needed ahead of European Parliamentary Elections and the two main parties must clearly show their hand on Brexit. In this election, every vote for the Liberal Democrats is one for a People's Vote with an option to remain in the EU.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said:

"Televised Leaders' debates have become a crucial part of the democratic process ensuring that people get the opportunity to hear each leader put forward their vision for the country.

"If Labour and the Conservatives believe that their Brexit plans are in the best interest of the country I am sure they will relish the opportunity to have a debate with representatives from all sides of the argument.

"The EU elections in May will be an opportunity for people to cast a vote against the national embarrassment Brexit has become. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats will be for a People's Vote with an option to remain in the EU."

Commenting on plans for the Scottish and UK Governments to host an Edinburgh summit to look at how UK companies can benefit more from the build-out of offshore wind farms in UK waters, North East Fife MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"The then SNP Economy Secretary Keith Brown proclaimed the takeover of BiFab by Canadian firm DF Barnes "a very good day" for employees and assured Parliament the firm had no intention of shedding further staff. Only 21 days later the new Scottish Government endorsed owners announced staff cuts.

Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader Alistair Carmichael MP has today lodged a Bill in the House of Commons calling for Scottish banknotes to be accepted throughout the UK.

Mr Carmichael will present his Legal Tender (Scottish Banknotes) Bill to Parliament as he bids to encourage businesses across the United Kingdom to recognise and accept Scottish banknotes. At present, while Scottish banknotes may be accepted in England, they do not carry the status of legal tender. This Bill would enhance the status of Scottish banknotes and mean a distinction couldn't be made between these and other banknotes issued in the UK when accepting them as payment.

Commenting on the news that Jackie Bird is to depart Reporting Scotland after thirty years at the helm, Scottish Liberal Democrat culture spokesperson Eileen McCartin said:

"Jackie Bird is a Scottish television staple. She's kept viewers across the country entertained with her witty and compassionate analysis for decades.

Commenting on a new report from Scape, The School Places Challenge 2019, which warns that an additional 13,600 pupils will join Scotland's school system by 2020/2021 and to meet this demand Scotland will need to build 453 additional secondary school classrooms, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Tavish Scott MSP said:

Responding to the news that a third baby has died after contracting a rare blood infection at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"The news that a third baby has died after contracting this infection at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital is extremely distressing. We are all thinking of the family at this horrible time.

Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Christine Jardine MP has today called for an end to "Conservative ministers cruelly balancing the books on the backs of the poorest", as she revealed new figures showing thousands more Scots in local authority housing have slipped into rent arrears since the roll out of Universal Credit.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has criticised UK Government plans for skills shortages in the fishing industry to be filled by young people on gap years and branded it an "insult to the industry".

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Carmichael said:

"According to the Migration Advisory Committee, the answer to the crew shortages in our fishing ports is to crew boats using New Zealanders and Australians on a gap year. I just wonder what world these people live in. That is insulting, and it is not just an insult from the Migration Advisory Committee; since the Minister and her colleagues rely on the report as the basis for continuing to refuse the most modest and common-sense proposal, it is an insult from those on the Treasury Bench themselves."

Responding to the warning from the IMF that a no-deal Brexit could plunge the UK into a two-year recession, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"The IMF's warning that leaving the EU without a deal would cause a two-year recession should put to bed Brexiter fantasies about WTO rules and a "managed no-deal Brexit" without any significant economic costs.

"Despite the best efforts of Parliament, No Deal remains the default position and the UK is now reliant on the EU to give another extension of the negotiations to avoid it.

"Any form of Brexit will be bad for our economy. That is why the people must be given a vote on the deal, with the option to stay in the EU instead."

Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine has today called for action to support parents - like her constituent Karen Gray - who are desperate for the cannabis-based medicines which they believe could end their child's suffering and which have been promised by the UK Government.

In November last year the Home Secretary bowed to pressure to allow specialists to legally prescribe the medicines but so far only a handful of prescriptions have been issued because of restrictive guidelines and this weekend a mother was arrested after she travelled to Holland to have the drugs prescribed for her daughter.