Following extensive consultation within the party, the Federal Board asked the Federal People Development Committee to develop a formal scheme for registered supporters. This is in keeping with the Party's agreed strategy to create a political and social movement and forms part of proposals to open up our structures which are being debated at Spring Conference in York.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat spring conference has today endorsed proposals to ensure that attainment action is made a "permanent feature" and the attainment fund is used effectively in schools to ensure every child has the "opportunity to succeed and excel" no matter their background.

The triple-tiered plan calls on the Scottish Government, the UK Government and local authorities to "work together and separately" to improve Scottish education.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat conference in Hamilton has today called for radical plans to reshape Scotland's rail network as it backed a motion from three local parties in the North East asking the Scottish Government to conduct a formal review of a number of closed lines and calling for new stations to be opened on existing lines.

Scottish Liberal Democrat conference has today backed a motion on improving outcomes for Scotland's prisons.

The motion calls for a series of measures to boost community justice in Scotland, including calling on the Scottish Government to:

• Reinvest savings made through reducing the prison population into community-based options,
• Routinely record adverse childhood experiences, as recommended by Scottish Government advisor Sir Harry Burns;
• Make sure the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service begin fatal accident inquiries into deaths in prison within 12 months to ensure lessons that can save lives are learned;
• Make sure people have a bank account and have had their social security eligibility assessed before they leave prison, if relevant, for example through a fit to work assessment before release;
• Expand throughcare and mentoring, delivered by dedicated additional staff capable of working with people before and after they leave prison to provide continuity, alongside a new right to housing, welfare and healthcare appointments within 48 hours of release, underpinned by Housing First principles;

Speaking ahead of her speech to the Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference in Hamilton on Friday 22nd February, Deputy Leader Jo Swinson MP said:

"Every day as the chaos unfolds, we see how hard leaving the European Union will be.

"Every form of Brexit will make us poorer, it will put jobs at risk and it will weaken us on the global stage.

We have been calling for a realignment of politics for decades. I have welcomed the courageous move by 11 Members of Parliament to sit as independents. We now must seize the moment and maximise this opportunity to reshape British politics.

Those MPs who have defected to the newly formed "Independent Group" come from different political traditions to our own. We should respect them for being honest about the fact that their former parties no longer articulate their values. Thankfully, our party, is different and still articulates the values that we have always held. In the politics of Brexit, we agree on a lot and have a shared desire to see a People's Vote. We shall cooperate in achieving that.

Commenting on the news that EIS members have rejected the Scottish Government's latest pay offer to teachers. Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Tavish Scott said:

"I urge John Swinney and the government to recognise the pressures on teachers. This is not just about pay. It is about the reality of classrooms the length and breadth of Scotland.

Commenting on the passage of the Scottish Government's budget, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"The Greens have been bought very cheaply. The extra money for councils was already available and local government finance reform has been delayed until the next parliament.

"We made a generous offer to the Finance Secretary. We said if you put independence to one side for the rest of this parliament we could work together on the needs of local government, the funding of mental health services and support for teachers pay. But he declined, preferring to put independence first.

Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine has successfully secured a one-to-one meeting next month with DWP Secretary, Amber Rudd.

Ms Jardine was named as Lib Dem spokesperson for work and pensions at the beginning of February, and has said she will utilise her position to bring her constituents' experiences to the national stage.