Dundee Liberal Democrats - www.dundeelibdems.scot

Scottish Liberal Democrat Beatrice Wishart MSP has today written to Cabinet Secretary Mike Russell to ask the Scottish Government to clarify what plans it has for imposing local lockdowns or restrictions in the event of localised COVID-19 outbreaks.

It comes after Scottish Liberal Democrats called for a rapid forward-looking inquiry into Scotland's preparedness for a second wave of COVID-19.

Beatrice Wishart, a member of the Scottish Parliament's COVID-19 Committee, commented:

"The public need straight answers on how local lockdowns or restrictions will work in practice and what the threshold is for their introduction.

"As we begin to exit lockdown, and people increasingly venture out to meet more friends and family members or return to work, the risk of localised flare-ups or a full-blown second wave is very real.

"Even countries that handled the first wave of the pandemic well have had to contend with this. We saw in Germany how fast the virus can still spread, with 1500 people in a single workplace recently testing positive. In response two districts reimposed restrictions locally to keep people safe without plunging other parts of the country back into lockdown.

"The Scottish Government will have to act fast to contain local outbreaks of the virus if and when they arise. The best way to do that is to have a clear and well-communicated plan to begin with, so I urge the ministers to clarify how local lockdowns would work in practice."

This new law crushes what was left of the 'one country, two systems' framework.
It destroys Hong Kong as we know it.

The UK government must now act swiftly to uphold the promises we made during the Handover.

The people of Hong Kong must immediately be given the right to live in the UK, with a pathway to citizenship. It is not good enough for this offer to only apply to BNO status holders and their dependents, as the Government have so far suggested. This leaves behind many young Hong Kongers who have been at the centre of the calls for democracy.

Today, Priti Patel is pushing her damaging Immigration Bill through the House of Commons.

We need a fair immigration system that treats everyone with dignity and respect.

By ending EU free movement, the Conservatives would both make it harder for doctors and nurses to come to work in the NHS and charge them thousands of pounds in fees for the privilege.

Orkney and Shetland MP and Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader, Alistair Carmichael, has today called for a bold cut in VAT on domestic tourism from 20% to 5% as part of a radical plan to save the tourism industry.

The hospitality and UK tourism industry are among the hardest hit by the necessary social distancing policies in place. Reports indicate that 80% of workers in the hotel and food industries are furloughed and up to a third may be at risk long term of losing their jobs. According to figures from Visit Britain, there will be 22 million fewer visitors to the UK this year.

Every year, I spend this day thinking about my dad who fought in Burma during the Second World War.

Each and every one of us has a connection to the Armed Forces - even if you don't have a family member who served in the past, or who serves now, I can safely say that you will have benefited from the Forces' commitment to our safety.

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Weekly Whip w/c 22nd June

Monday 22nd June

This was another week where the business was light, although there were a few important UQs and statements.

We've been inspired by some of the tremendous efforts that our party activists have taken over the past few months.

Coronavirus has hit communities hard across the country. Early on in the lockdown, as a party we decided to turn our traditional campaigning army into a non-political community taskforce, with the aim of helping the most vulnerable during this difficult time.

Responding to reports that the Scottish government has requested new financial powers from the Treasury to support the economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"Liberal Democrats have already backed greater short-term flexibility within the Fiscal Framework to help the government control the virus. That would include the right kind of borrowing powers to help pay for public services.