Dundee Liberal Democrats - www.dundeelibdems.scot

Commenting on new figures from the Resolution Foundation projecting that child poverty is set to rise to 29 per cent by 2023/24, which would be the highest rate in over 20 years, Social Security spokesperson Caron Lindsay said:

"This is a terrifying prediction. This chaotic Conservative Government have eaten away at people's living standards and now almost a third of children are facing growing up in poverty.

I'm on the train returning home from Brussels after a day speaking to European liberal leaders, ahead of the European Council, and then briefing the gathered media on the Liberal Democrat campaign for a People's Vote, to stop Brexit.

Given that the United Kingdom has caused such huge difficulties and tumult in the European Union, the warm reception given to us by our sister parties - patient, rather sad - is always impressive. I emphasised to the danger the Prime Minister is placing both the UK and Europe in, by arguing for a short extension which simply postpones the cliff edge we have been facing. What is needed now is a long extension to Article 50, to permit a real rethink and a final public say on the deal.

Responding to reports that NHS Lothian has written to nearly 200 patients who underwent heart surgery in the last six months to warn them of a potentially deadly infection risk, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"Infection control experts are already taking significant steps to reassure patients but this news will be hugely stressful for patients who have already undergone complex procedures and may be in a vulnerable condition.

Responding to the publication of the Scottish Parliament's sexual harassment policy, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"I hope that the publication of this policy is a landmark moment in the way that Parliament deals with sexual harassment.

"We have a duty to everyone, both in Parliament and out, to demonstrate a zero tolerance approach.

In the news this week, it was announced that an increasing number of schools across Birmingham have stopped their LGBT+ relationship education directly as a result of protesting parents.

This should be a national scandal.

A select few parents have protested against teaching children that same-sex relationships exist and are ok.

Scottish Liberal Democrat Communities and Local Government spokesperson Councillor Peter Barrett has today said that the SNP are increasing the burden on the bereaved as a new report revealed that councils have increased burial charges in response to increasing budget pressures.

The Local Government Overview 2019 report from the Accounts Commission found that councils had increased 11 types of charges by more than inflation between 2016/17 and 2018/19. The highest increases were in relation to burials, with the cost of a burial plot increased by an average of 20 per cent (22 councils responded) and the cost for burial services increased by 12 per cent (23 councils responded).

Responding to today's GDP figures for Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrat Economy and Fair Work spokesperson Katy Gordon said

"It is completely complacent for the SNP to claim 1 percent annual growth is evidence of strength.

"Brexit and the loss of skilled workers is harming the potential of Scotland as well as the whole of the UK.

Responding to a speech from Andrew Buist, Chair of the BMA Scotland's GP Committee, voicing his concerns over the serious long-term damage that Brexit is set to inflict on health and social care systems across the UK, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"The Conservative party are putting the health of our nation at risk.