Responding to the announcement that a public inquiry will be held into issues at two flagship Scottish hospitals, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"This is a welcome but long overdue u-turn from the Health Secretary. As the first party to call for a public inquiry into this fiasco, Scottish Liberal Democrats have consistently demanded better for patients than the SNP's excuses and evasion.

Marking five years since the independence referendum, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said:

"It is difficult to believe that five years have passed since that campaign. We had the power in our hands and we made the right decision for the future of our country. The nationalists gave it everything for the once in a lifetime vote but the partnership of the United Kingdom endured.

Commenting on new annual delayed discharge figures from ISD Scotland, which show that delayed hospital discharges have increased by 6% between 2017/18 and 2018/19, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"While some of these extended hospital stays will be due to complex conditions, far too many are because there isn't enough capacity to take care of people in the community.

There is something that the architects of Brexit are desperately trying to distract us from.

Our planet is in crisis, balanced on a knife-edge at the point of no return.

Our planet is in crisis, balanced on a knife-edge at the point of no return.

Due to man-made climate change, global temperatures are soaring, the polar ice caps are melting faster than ever before, and whole nations are already facing the existential crisis of rising sea levels and extreme weather. Whole species of animals are being wiped out month by month, and global famine is a very real threat.

Hello Conference!

What a brilliant time to be a Liberal Democrat!

On the 7th May next year, London voters will make a decision of national and international importance. Who will be the next Mayor of London.

They will decide who they believe embodies the very spirit of London. Who will stand up for global, liberal, pro-European, warm-hearted and dynamic values. Who will reflect and reinforce the optimism, diversity and entrepreneurialism of our capital.

Conference, I don't know about you, but when you knock on doors canvassing, and people say "Oh, you're all the same", it can be quite frustrating.

Brexit has changed all that. Everyone now knows, we are very different from Johnson's Conservatives and Corbyn's Labour.

Only the Liberal Democrats want to stop Brexit. Let's face it. Our great country could be just 46 days from economic catastrophe.

The power to strip someone of their citizenship is one of the most serious the Home Secretary possesses.

It should only be taken when absolutely necessary. And only when the national security interest can be proven in court.

Was Javid's decision to strip Shamima Begum's citizenship about the safety of our country or the advancement of his career?

Vince began by thanking everyone who had helped him during his time as leader, and saying what he'd be doing next:

"I have fought ten national elections over half a century. I couldn't have done that on my own without the emotional and practical support of my wife Rachel and my late wife Olympia. And without my dedicated team of volunteers in Twickenham and in Parliament led by Dee Doocey."

Make no mistake: there is something that the architects of Brexit are desperately trying to distract us from.

Our planet is in crisis, balanced on a knife-edge at the point of no return.

Our planet is in crisis, balanced on a knife-edge at the point of no return.

Due to man-made climate change, global temperatures are soaring, the polar ice caps are melting faster than ever before, and whole nations are already facing the existential crisis of rising sea levels and extreme weather. Whole species of animals are being wiped out month by month, and global famine is a very real threat.

Conference, it is an honour and a pleasure to be addressing you as a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament and as your Shadow Foreign Secretary.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making me feel so welcome. I could not be more at home in the wonderful Liberal Democrat family.

The truth is, all the incredibly difficult decisions I have made on the journey I've been on this year were routed in my values and principles. I joined this party out of conviction.