Lib Dems launch manifesto with call for change ‘with fairness at its heart’

Scotland “has so much going for it” but it does not feel like the country is working, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats has said as he launched the party’s manifesto.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said the Lib Dems would embed 900 multidisciplinary health workers into GP practices to alleviate pressure on family doctors, and would also boost social care by £400 million.

The party has been strong in its criticism of the Scottish Government’s handling of social care, which has led to increases in delayed discharges clogging up hospitals.

The Lib Dems also pledged to create a £100 million emergency insulation fund to improve the heating of homes, and to start work on delivering major infrastructure projects like tunnels between the islands that make up Shetland.

Speaking in Edinburgh on Friday, Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “Scotland has so much going for it, but right now it feels like our country simply isn’t working.

“Household bills are soaring. There are long waits to see your GP. The SNP’s ferries fiasco is a national embarrassment, and Scottish education just isn’t what it used to be.

“We know you feel let down by the other parties.

“We think Scotland deserves better than this. But it needs to be change with fairness at its heart.

“We believe in fairness for everyone, no matter who you are or where you come from. That’s why we have a realistic plan to get things done, focused on the things that matter most – like access to healthcare and the cost of living.”

The Lib Dems are targeting 10 constituency seats, but they are also urging voters to back them on the regional list.

Mr Cole-Hamilton added: “Let me be straight with you. You have two votes.

“In many constituencies we are on the verge of winning against the SNP, but wherever you are, every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach ballot will deliver change with fairness at its heart.”

The 10 target seats include the already held constituencies of Edinburgh North Western, Fife North East, Orkney, and Shetland, along with Edinburgh Northern; Caithness, Sutherland and Ross; Inverness and Nairn; Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch; Argyll and Bute; and Strathkelvin and Bearsden.