Rutherglen Liberal Democrat candidate responds to announcement of General Election

“It’s absolutely time for change for our country and our Government. Time for Liberal values in place of crisis and chaos in both London and Edinburgh.

Scottish Liberal Democrats want to bring people back together, putting Scotland at the heart of a reformed UK and fixing our broken relationship with Europe. We want to help everyone who can't get a GP appointment or see an NHS dentist. We want to support our schools and deliver for business.

Liberal Democrats have won the safest of Conservative seats in record by-election wins. We have beaten the Conservatives in the English local elections and Scottish opinion polls show we are growing.

The chaotic Conservatives and the scandal-hit SNP have made a mess of our country for too long. People have had enough.

There was a time you could see your GP at the first time of asking and your dentist still offered NHS care, Scottish education was amongst the best in the world and all the ferries worked. It was so much easier to rent somewhere to live or to buy your first home, our economy was growing and business thrived.

People feel they are working harder but are falling further behind - like they are being taken for granted by the Government.

Liberal Democrats will reduce your bills and tackle climate change by rolling out a national insulation programme, and we’ll get the government-owned water company to clean up its act and stop filling our rivers and our beaches with sewage.

If elected I will be a champion for our community and fight on your behalf for a fair deal. It’s time for change.”