Dundee Liberal Democrats - www.dundeelibdems.scot

Responding to news that a minimum of nine new Coronavirus cases have been discovered in Orkney, Orkney's MSP, Liam McArthur commented:

"This spike in new cases is deeply worrying. It is also a timely reminder that this virus remains a real threat and that we all have a responsibility to act with the upmost care to keep ourselves and our community safe.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to grant EU citizens the automatic right to stay in the UK, with the physical proof they need, as new Home Office figures reveal thousands are being refused and millions are still awaiting a final decision.

The latest EU Settlement Scheme statistics, published this morning, reveal 4,600 people have been refused Settled Status, while 1,475,500 have only been granted temporary 'Pre-Settled Status' and 212,400 are still waiting for a decision.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:

"For far too long, millions of EU citizens in the UK have been living under a cloud of uncertainty. Boris Johnson cannot be allowed to continue to break his promise to them.

"With so many people being refused Settled Status, granted only temporary 'Pre-Settled Status' or still waiting for a decision, it's clear that this Conservative Government's scheme is anything but automatic.

"And without physical proof of their rights, EU citizens will be at the mercy of the Conservatives' Hostile Environment. They must not become the victims of a new Windrush-style scandal.

"That is why Liberal Democrats have called for EU citizens to be given the automatic right to stay in the UK, with the physical proof they need."

Commenting on today's defeated vote of no confidence in the Education Secretary, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"When the policy direction is constantly changing in an erratic and uncontrolled fashion it has an debilitating impact on the organisation. That is when the organisation just does not know what to expect next and loses confidence in the leadership.

Due to the coronavirus crisis, young people have not only had to adapt to a new system of at-home learning, but many have also missed out on sitting crucial exams that would decide their university fate.

Now, many of these students across England have been left rightly worried about their futures over the government's decision to use a botched grading system in their A-level results.

Back in July, Boris Johnson finally agreed to our demands to hold an independent inquiry into the Government's response to coronavirus.

The Prime Minister accepted his Government will "learn the lessons of this pandemic" and confirmed there will be in independent inquiry.

BREAKING: Boris Johnson agrees to the Liberal Democrats' calls for an independent inquiry into government handling of COVID-19.

Watch @EdwardJDavey's question here 👇 #PMQs pic.twitter.com/TS52ea1WAi

- Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) July 15, 2020

the combination of a higher poverty rate than the rest of England, Brexit, COVID-19 and an ineffectual Mayor have presented Londoners with huge challenges

Nearly nine million people, 300 languages, the second largest financial centre in the world, a power house of culture, media and business and the driver of the UK economy: London is a fantastic place to live and work. But the combination of a higher poverty rate than the rest of England, Brexit, COVID-19 and an ineffectual Mayor have presented Londoners with huge challenges.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Beatrice Wishart has today said that the Scottish Qualification Authority needs "root and branch reform" to make it fit for purpose after chief executive Fiona Robertson and director of qualifications Dr Gill Stewart appeared before the Scottish Parliament's education committee today.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today pressed the First Minister to be transparent on her plans for schools in the event of a local outbreak.

He wants to know whether they will keep schools open like the Prime Minister plans or close them down along with local businesses.

Mr Rennie said: