Scottish Liberal Democrats launch manifesto

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have launched their manifesto for the general election hailing it as “the chance to change the direction of the country”.

The party has promised to end the one per cent pay cap in the public sector, keep the triple-lock for pensions and end to the Conservatives’ two-child rule for tax credits.

The Lib Dems also want a referendum on the final terms of the Brexit deal but strongly oppose a second independence vote.

Leader Willie Rennie said Scotland can “turn away from another divisive independence referendum and a damaging hard Brexit”.

He added:  “Instead with a modest penny on tax we can invest in our people.

“This will get Scottish education back up to the best in the world again so that people have the skills to drive our economy.

“It will get people the mental health treatment they need so they can contribute too.

“In so many seats across the country it is a straight choice between the Liberal Democrats and the SNP.”

Rennie said with the Scottish economy “teetering on the edge of a recession”, the performance of Scottish education dropping down the international rankings and mental health services “failing to deliver”, the last thing Scotland needs is another “divisive and distracting debate”.

“Brexit poses real threats to jobs, security and funding for the NHS. That's why we oppose it too,” he said.   

“The manifesto is a positive programme for Scotland inside the UK.”

The Liberal Democrats are the only party campaigning to stay in both the UK and EU single markets and the manifesto proposes to give people across the UK an opportunity to reject a bad deal on Brexit.