"Forget about the Independence Referendum": the message from Willie Rennie

The Scottish Liberal Democrats held their Autumn party conference in Dunfermline yesterday. Scottish Leader Willie Rennie spoke of his frustration with the SNP and welcomed new UK leader Tim Farron to the stage.

Liberal Democrats from across the country visited Dunfermline yesterday for their party conference.

Scottish Leader Willie Rennie pushed for more women to get ahead in politics and celebrated an increase in membership of the party by 25%.

Mr. Rennie claimed that the Liberal Democrats were also the party who opposed the centralisation of  Police Scotland.

He urged the First Minister to stop talking about the Independence Referendum, citing a recent opinion poll which he claimed found that a quarter of a million people believe their relationship with a friend or family member has been permanently damaged as a result of the vote.

Public services were at the heart of the speech with Mr. Rennie stating the Liberal Democrats will protect teachers, nurses and doctors.

In his speech Mr. Rennie said there were three key initiatives as part of the Liberal Democrats agenda for Scotland:

-Releasing the potential of people.

-Empowering  public sector workers.

-Trusting  local communities.

His speech however was criticised by the Scottish Conservative's who called it "desperate". The SNP added to the criticism saying Mr Rennie's speech "offered no apology, no ideas and no ambition for Scotland and was just another rehearsal of the same old, negative lines the Lib Dems have been using since the referendum."

Mr. Rennie was joined on stage by the new leader of the UK party Tim Farron. His message to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was "If the SNP genuinely want to fight for Scotland to stay in Europe, if you really believe we are better together, if you want to make a difference then stop playing daft games, come and join us."

Mr.Farron also claimed the Liberal Democrat's are the party who will support the police, GP, nurses, teachers and refuges.