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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I was glad to attend the annual conference of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Scotland this week and to discuss the important work they do, political leadership and how they can be positioned closer to the communities that they serve.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The Scottish Government announced plans for an 'East Coast Arc' between Aberdeen, Dundee and St Andrews to link research business and universities, but the business minister was vague about what practical difference a new 'cluster development organisation' will make.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Scotland is a good place to do business but there are issues that we need to address if we are going to get out of the sluggish growth that the Scottish economy has been experiencing for many years now.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

The transport secretary seemed unaware of an incident on the Glen Sannox ferry last year where 700kg of methane gas escaped in an uncontrolled release and some was sucked into the ship's ventilation system. It was described by CalMac as a "critical failure" and the...

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Scottish Government ministers have been reluctant to say anything about their interactions with Sanjeev Gupta's companies which they used public money to support, despite the Dalzell steel plant being inactive for two years and the government loan allegedly being transferred elsewhere.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The cumulative impact of offshore energy cables is putting the prawn fishing industry in North East Fife under real pressure and threatens its future. Some offshore developments have provided compensation to the fishermen who have been affected, but others haven't.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

The murder of Stacy Hunter by her estranged husband who was on bail has left many people in the local community shocked and devastated. It has also raised real questions about the use of tagging and how technology could be used better to protect people in similar circumstances.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

The Scottish Liberal Democrats secured funding in a previous budget to better support people with conditions such as long covid, ME and CFD. I questioned the health secretary about the implementation of that work and the creation of dedicated clinics.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I asked the social justice secretary to be open about long waiting times for applicants for Adult Disability Payment and to address recommendations from Audit Scotland.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

There are still uncertainties about the bus fare cap in Scotland even as it is about to be expanded, including what it will mean for the number of bus routes and future investment. The transport committee will continue to look at these issues and will question the transport secretary next week.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I responded to the Programme for Government and emphasised the need to deliver improvements in people's daily lives. There were some encouraging signs, but I urged the government to be cautious about sweeping structural change which could get in the way of work for services to work together.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The Scottish Government provided a £7 million loan to support the Dalzell steel mill, but the plant hasn't been active for two years and the money was allegedly transferred elsewhere.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

It was great to visit the St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company last week and to see up close the hard work which goes into making their award-winning cheeses.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I visited Balcaskie Farm today to meet the estate's manager and a representative from Quality Meat Scotland. I learned a lot about the herd of Lincoln Red cows and the wider importance of cattle farming to Scotland's economy.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I was glad to visit the Quaker Oats factory outside Cupar last week and was grateful for the opportunity to tour the facility and to discuss the business and some of the policy issues they're facing.

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Reposted by Willie Rennie MSP

Andrew Learmonth @andrewlearmonth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

The revelations came after Lib Dem MSP @willierennie.bsky.social wrote to the Scottish Government demanding answers over a string of allegations at the plant made to him by sources at the plant. We put those allegations to the company.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I spent yesterday helping out on a creel boat, the Fiona S, with its captain Richard and his son Jamie. Thankfully for the most part it was a beautiful sunny day and the sea was calm, although I wasn’t quite so steady when the waves got up in the afternoon.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

This morning I joined Andy who showed me the ropes at the Royal Mail delivery office in St Andrews and took me out on a delivery round in the town. It was a useful experience to see how this important service operates.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

It was fantastic to visit the Strathkinness Community Garden earlier this month and to see their extensive activities, from growing fruit and vegetables to the soil health project. www.youtube.com/watch?v=22WC...

youtube.com

Strathkinness Community Garden

YouTube video by Willie Rennie

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

We had a good discussion about the issues affecting tourism in North East Fife with Marc Crothall (Scottish Tourism Alliance) and Kristian Campbell, manager, Fairmont St. Andrews. We discussed visitor numbers and patterns, tourism tax, business rates review, workforce, short term lets and more.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

It’s going to be a creative week at the Pittenweem Arts Festival with lots of new, young talent featuring alongside the traditional. You’ll still enjoy the tiny studios tucked away up closes, garages & lofts with music & local food on the streets. 1st-8th August. www.pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

I visited the St Andrews Environmental Network last week to see one of their projects which involves repurposing surplus items from local businesses and distributing them to people in need. If you think your business could get involved then please contact the charity.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

It was wonderful to attend the Falkland Festival and St. Monans Sea Queen Festival with Wendy Chamberlain on Saturday. These great events show the vibrancy of North East Fife's communities and they are valued summer traditions.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I was glad to meet the new leadership of the University of St Andrews Students' Association last week and to discuss the priorities they want to address during their term.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

It was fantastic to visit Native Aqua in St Andrews last week to learn about their work to restore the oyster population off Scotland's shores. They have spawned native oyster larvae, one of the few times this has been done in Scotland, representing a significant milestone in the project.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

It was fantastic to welcome Richard Tough to the formal opening ceremony of the Scottish Parliament as North East Fife’s 'local hero'. He has done a substantial amount of good work for his community and good causes, and I hope that being included in the opening ceremony goes some way to... 1/4

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I joined an open letter of MSPs to the UK Government, calling on them to intervene and pause the decision to remove Coastguard Rescue Officers' paid renumeration for call-outs and training. CROs are highly-trained volunteers and do vital work to keep people safe along our shores and in our waters.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

There are real challenges facing the country. We need to address the cost of living and grow the economy, support people into employment and improve education. But we won't solve problems by stoking division in society, as Reform try to do.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

I convened the first evidence session of the Transport Committee in this session of the Scottish Parliament, scrutinising the decision of Loganair to cut Inverness flights to and from the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

While the Scottish Government complained that it wasn't involved in the UK Government's new legislation on the steel industry, the business minister was completely unaware of developments at the Dalzell steel plant in Lanarkshire, despite the Scottish Government having an outstanding... 1/2

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Staff at the University of Dundee who are at risk of losing their jobs are facing terrible uncertainty. They have been living under that uncertainty for years now. 1/3

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

I questioned the education secretary about the provision of support for children with additional support needs. The headline figures include a great variety of different needs, and the availability of skilled professional support staff has not kept up with demand for their services.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

The substantial contracts which are being tendered for dualling the remaining sections of the A9 must include real community benefit and supply chain benefit along the route. I asked the business minister what lessons the government has learned from previous projects to achieve this.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Frequent changes to bus routes or the withdrawal of services altogether is disruptive to people's lives, making it difficult to get to work or to take up educational opportunities. That's why I want to see greater use of powers to franchise local bus services... 1/2

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Sir Ian Boyd's report into the future of SRUC at Elmwood has been submitted to its board. While the report and his recommendations have not yet been published I hope that this will be a real opportunity for SRUC to commit to a long-term vision for the site, which has... 1/2

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

The SNP need to understand the damage that the scandal surrounding Peter Murrell has done to people's trust in politics. It is a personal tragedy for those involved but it is also a professional failure for the SNP leadership. 1/2

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Businesses need predictability from the Scottish Government so that they can get on and grow the economy. Too often in recent years Ministers have disregarded the role of the private sector and have been quick to offer spin instead of change which will benefit people in Scotland.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

I have received a reply from the government to my letter about the Lower Melville Wood fire. I raised the concerns and questions of the local people that I have spoken to and asked for the government to commission an independent investigation into the causes of the fire and how it was... 1/3

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Wendy and I visited Craigtoun Park at the weekend to see the fantastic progress which has been made on the the renovation of the Dutch Village.

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Reposted by Willie Rennie MSP

Nature Champions @naturechampions.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

📣 Nature Champions News! 📣 @willierennie.bsky.social is the #NatureChampion for Lowland Raised Bogs! Willie will be working with @scotwildlife.bsky.social to champion these irreplaceable habitats in the Scottish Parliament. Find out more: www.scotlink.org/species/lowl... 📸 ScotParl | Leah Gray

Image of a lowland raised bog with a boardwalk

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

The Scottish Government lost public trust in its taxation policy in recent years and has failed to manage the challenges facing the public finances, all while many public services are not delivering the outcomes that they should.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

The government's announcement that it will bring in legislation to restrict the use of mobile phones in schools is welcome. I previously called for a national approach with legislative backing, and at the election the Scottish Liberal Democrats supported a national policy... 1/2

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

I questioned the First Minister today about the Lower Melville Wood fire and called for the Scottish Government to commission an independent investigation into the causes or the fire, the way it was handled and the future of the site.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

If the government is serious about valuing the childcare workforce, it needs to fix the gap in funding faced by private and voluntary nurseries. Staff end up paid less than those in council-run nurseries because of unequal government funding.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

I have been a longstanding supporter of expanding funded childcare provision for families, giving parents flexibility and choice, but we need to fix the foundations of the system in Scotland before moving on to further expansion.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

We need pragmatic action to tackle the housing emergency, but the SNP's proposals risk being a subsidy for people who can already afford to buy their own home rather than a targeted measure to support those who can't, like a previous government scheme which was abandoned.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

The Scottish Parliament needs to work better than it has in recent years, and that is why the Liberal Democrats, with our group of ten MSPs, will hunt for agreement and do our best to deliver results for our constituents. 1/2

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

I was glad to attend this year's Fife Show with Wendy Chamberlain to meet with farmers and others involved in the rural economy.

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Willie Rennie MSP @willierennie.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Update on the Lower Melville Wood fire

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