Lib Dems looking to ‘break new ground’ in next year’s Scottish council elections

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said his party would have a “relentless focus on the issues that matter” to people, as he kicked off campaigning ahead of next year’s council elections.

Six months from the elections, Mr Cole-Hamilton hit the campaign trail in Moray and Aberdeenshire on Friday, as his party looked to build on this year’s Holyrood results.

At the Scottish Parliament elections in May the Liberal Democrats went from four MSPs to 10, although they remain the smallest party in the chamber.

Mr Cole-Hamilton says the Lib Dems can “build on that success”.

He said: “At a time when families are facing financial pressures and local services are being stretched to breaking point, people want councillors who will stand up for their communities and get things done.

“Time and again, Scottish Liberal Democrats have shown that we are the party that gets things done.

“Our councillors, candidates and activists are rooted in their communities, fighting for better local services, safer streets and a fair deal for local people. That’s the spirit we’ll be taking into these elections.”

He added that people had put their trust in the Scottish Liberal Democrats at the Holyrood vote in unprecedented numbers, and people were feeling “frustrated and let down by a nationalist Government that takes them for granted”.

As a result, he claimed voters “are flocking to Scottish Liberal Democrats because we have a relentless focus on the issues that matter, like good schools and fixing our roads”.

Mr Cole-Hamilton continued: “We are taking that momentum into every community in Scotland, and we are ready to build on that success and continue making a difference at every level of government for the people of Scotland.”

Neil Alexander, who is running to be a councillor in Elgin next May, said the party was “giving local communities the chance to secure real change”.

He added: “I’m not here simply to talk the talk. I’m here to listen to local residents, work hard for this community and make history by becoming the first Liberal Democrat councillor elected in Elgin.

“There’s new ground to break, and we’re ready to break it.”