Dundee Liberal Democrats - www.dundeelibdems.scot

Theresa May's Brexit deal just lost in the Commons by 230 votes. This is huge - she's failed to convince her party, failed to convince Parliament and failed in her attempt to scaremonger MPs into backing her. It's the biggest loss in the Commons by a Government - ever.

Brexit is a national embarrassment.

Lib Dem MP for Edinburgh West Christine Jardine has today slammed the SNP for its misleading claims over its immigration policy.

The SNP have cited Canada as an example of a Federal system that has devolved immigration, claiming that the Canadian Provinces have control over their own immigration.

The Scottish Affairs committee, taking evidence from George Anderson, the former Canadian Deputy Minister of Interior Government Affairs, heard that the Provinces and Federal Government actually have joint responsibility on immigration.

Theresa May's botched Brexit deal goes to the Commons tomorrow night, and its chances are looking slim.

A Lords motion regretting the damage Brexit would do and rejecting no deal has passed by a stonking 169 votes.

Stonking majority of 169 in Lords defeating govt - 321 to 152 - with Opposition motion rejecting Brexit 'no-deal' & saying WA/PD damaging.
Glad to work on this, in conjunction with @RichardNewby3, with @HayteratLords & @LadyBasildon & others across the House

- Sarah Ludford 🔶 #FBPE #FinalSayontheDeal (@SarahLudford) 14 January 2019

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP today said that the Scottish Government needs to give NHS staff a break after new figures reveal a "ridiculous" fivefold increase in the number of patients waiting over 12 hours for treatment in A&E.

Official figures released today show performance against the 4-hour waiting time target at 86.4% - the lowest level since the Beast from the East. The weekly figures also show 579 patients waited over 8 hours and 142 patients waited over 12 hours.

In response to an press statement from the Secretary of State for Scotland in support of Theresa May's Brexit deal, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie MSP said:

"David Mundell's proposal will damage the UK economy according to the Treasury's own analysis.

"The final decision is too important to be left to an utterly divided Conservative party. That's why it needs to be put to a people's vote across the UK.

A cross-party group of MPs has today (January 14th) published legislation to bring about a 'People's Vote' referendum on the Government's Brexit deal in 2019.

The MPs have produced two draft Bills to break the deadlock in Parliament. First, a 'Paving Bill' which would enable the Electoral Commission to start the necessary consultation around a referendum question and lead campaign designation. Secondly, a full Bill which would provide for a referendum on the deal versus remaining within the European Union.

The legislation would enable the public to have the final say before the scheduled European elections. If the public chooses to remain within the European Union, voters would once again elect MEPs. If the public chooses to endorse the deal, the UK would no longer send representatives to the European Parliament, and the 27 remaining Member States could proceed with their elections unimpeded.

The full Bill also puts in place new restrictions on online advertising during the referendum campaign, ensuring that spending is transparent and properly accounted for. Beyond these changes, the Bill maintains similar arrangements as those for the 2016 referendum. However, it would be possible for Parliament to amend it to widen the existing franchise to 16-18 year olds, to all UK citizens overseas, and to European Union citizens in the UK.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable, said:

"This Bill puts flesh on the bones of our campaign for a final say. Crucially, it shows how quickly a People's Vote can be delivered.

"With the Bill, Liberal Democrats and others can give the country the best way out of the present uncertainty.

"The Government should accept this as the starting point for legislation to break the current deadlock, enabling the people the final say and the option to remain in the EU."

Speaking in response to the announcement from UK Conservative minister Rory Stewart that he is considering replacing short prison sentences with more effective community sentences, the justice spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats Liam McArthur MSP said:

"Rory Stewart has recognised that short prison sentences put communities at high risk from reoffending. Alternative community sentences cut crime because they make reoffending less likely.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today called for "one more push to deliver a People's Vote" as he addressed parliamentarians, councillors, campaigners and activists at a gathering in Milngavie. Mr Rennie also highlighted how a campaign supported by the Liberal Democrats from its inception has grown and grown and said that there was now palpable concern among the extremist wing of the Conservative party that Brexit can be stopped.