Work with other parties on budget, new Scottish Lib Dem deputy tells Scottish Government

The Scottish Government should work constructively with other parties on the next budget, the new deputy leader of the Scottish Lib Dems has said.

Wendy Chamberlain MP said it was important the government does not approach the budget down constitutional lines in order to “deliver for all communities”.

The Scottish budget will be delivered by the finance secretary, Kate Forbes, next Thursday at Holyrood.

Unlike previous years, the Scottish government will not need to reach out to other parties to get it passed because of the formal deal between the SNP and Greens.

But acknowledging the SNP-Green cooperation deal, Chamberlain said meeting Lib Dem demands, particularly on mental health, would “take us to a better place”.

She added: “If Nicola Sturgeon is serious and if Kate Forbes is serious about the message that they want to see in terms of working for everybody, I think they do need to approach this with a mindset that isn’t just on that constitutional question. It is about what we deliver for all communities.”

Chamberlain’s election as Scottish deputy leader was announced in Friday afternoon.

She takes over from fellow MP Alistair Carmichael, who served in that role for nine years.

She has been the MP for North East Fife since 2019, taking the seat back from the SNP who had won it in 2017 with a majority of just two votes.

Welcoming her elevation to deputy leader, she said: “When it comes to actual policies, and actual change, the Liberal Democrats are delivering. We want our country to thrive. To be strong. To be prosperous. And to be fair. This is the vision we offer, and this is what I commit to fighting for as your deputy leader.”

Meanwhile, Jenni Lang takes over as convener of the Scottish party.

In her message as outgoing convener, Sheila Ritchie urged members to “work harder on tolerance” of alternative views.

She said: “I grieve for every member who has left through disagreement with others. It grieves me that we seem generally to lack respect for the views of others. That’s anathema to our values and we need to work harder on tolerance.”