Willie Rennie MSP
@willierennie.bsky.social
Scottish Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on education, economy and social justice
I met local ambulance staff in North East Fife today to discuss the challenges facing the service. We talked about waiting times as well as drug misuse, mental health, and the first responder services in the East Neuk and Howe of Fife.
December 19, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I met local ambulance staff in North East Fife today to discuss the challenges facing the service. We talked about waiting times as well as drug misuse, mental health, and the first responder services in the East Neuk and Howe of Fife.
The SNP government has failed to close the poverty-related attainment gap as Nicola Sturgeon promised in 2016. Ministers insisted that their pandemic recovery plan would be sufficient to support pupils to regain their lost learning, but now they use covid as a defence for breaking the promise.
December 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The SNP government has failed to close the poverty-related attainment gap as Nicola Sturgeon promised in 2016. Ministers insisted that their pandemic recovery plan would be sufficient to support pupils to regain their lost learning, but now they use covid as a defence for breaking the promise.
The risk of strikes in Scotland's schools remains after teachers' unions said that the education secretary's latest proposals do not adequately address their dispute on reducing teacher class contact time. I questioned the education secretary on what she is going to do to resolve the dispute.
December 18, 2025 at 11:04 AM
The risk of strikes in Scotland's schools remains after teachers' unions said that the education secretary's latest proposals do not adequately address their dispute on reducing teacher class contact time. I questioned the education secretary on what she is going to do to resolve the dispute.
In many health boards covering almost a third of Scotland's adult population, the NHS does not offer adult neurodevelopmental assessments. That makes it difficult for people to get the support they need. I asked the government to act more urgently to solve the problem.
December 18, 2025 at 10:01 AM
In many health boards covering almost a third of Scotland's adult population, the NHS does not offer adult neurodevelopmental assessments. That makes it difficult for people to get the support they need. I asked the government to act more urgently to solve the problem.
The education secretary gave a statement today on the government's approach to tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation. I urged caution on the issue of mandatory reporting and asked her to listen closely to expert opinion.
December 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The education secretary gave a statement today on the government's approach to tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation. I urged caution on the issue of mandatory reporting and asked her to listen closely to expert opinion.
The education committee questioned the justice secretary about comments she made which misrepresented the views of Professor Alexis Jay, who subsequently asked for her position to be clarified. 1/2
December 17, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The education committee questioned the justice secretary about comments she made which misrepresented the views of Professor Alexis Jay, who subsequently asked for her position to be clarified. 1/2
The education and children committee heard evidence from Professor Alexis Jay who has been appointed as the independent chair of a national strategic group on child sexual abuse and exploitation.
December 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The education and children committee heard evidence from Professor Alexis Jay who has been appointed as the independent chair of a national strategic group on child sexual abuse and exploitation.
MSPs passed the Residential Outdoor Education Bill yesterday to ensure that all children are offered an outdoor residential trip. This reflects the importance and benefits this can provide.
December 17, 2025 at 10:15 AM
MSPs passed the Residential Outdoor Education Bill yesterday to ensure that all children are offered an outdoor residential trip. This reflects the importance and benefits this can provide.
Cllr Gary Holt and I met with Stagecoach yesterday to convey the real anger of people across North East Fife at the recent changes they have made to their services.
We also discussed possibilities for the way forward, including municipal bus services, franchising and quality bus partnerships.
We also discussed possibilities for the way forward, including municipal bus services, franchising and quality bus partnerships.
December 16, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Cllr Gary Holt and I met with Stagecoach yesterday to convey the real anger of people across North East Fife at the recent changes they have made to their services.
We also discussed possibilities for the way forward, including municipal bus services, franchising and quality bus partnerships.
We also discussed possibilities for the way forward, including municipal bus services, franchising and quality bus partnerships.
It was great to visit the Bowhouse market with Wendy Chamberlain at the weekend. We talked to some of the local businesses who were selling their products there and did some Christmas shopping.
December 15, 2025 at 3:18 PM
It was great to visit the Bowhouse market with Wendy Chamberlain at the weekend. We talked to some of the local businesses who were selling their products there and did some Christmas shopping.
It is right to have a social security system which treats people with the dignity and respect they deserve, but we also need to address the increasing costs of the system.
December 12, 2025 at 10:47 AM
It is right to have a social security system which treats people with the dignity and respect they deserve, but we also need to address the increasing costs of the system.
There was positive news in the government's statement on Grangemouth today, and I hope that the full benefits of the projects which were mentioned can come to fruition. I asked the energy secretary what is being done to track the outcomes for workers who have lost their jobs.
December 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
There was positive news in the government's statement on Grangemouth today, and I hope that the full benefits of the projects which were mentioned can come to fruition. I asked the energy secretary what is being done to track the outcomes for workers who have lost their jobs.
I asked the Deputy First Minister for an update on what is being done to support the workers and the local community at Mossmorran after ExxonMobil announced the closure of the site.
December 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I asked the Deputy First Minister for an update on what is being done to support the workers and the local community at Mossmorran after ExxonMobil announced the closure of the site.
The delayed and overbudget ferries built at Ferguson's are the direct result of the SNP's decisions, but ministers still talk as if it is nothing to do with them. They still haven't put forward a proper plan for the yard's future and the future of the workers who have been badly let down.
December 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The delayed and overbudget ferries built at Ferguson's are the direct result of the SNP's decisions, but ministers still talk as if it is nothing to do with them. They still haven't put forward a proper plan for the yard's future and the future of the workers who have been badly let down.
Nicola Sturgeon promised to close the poverty-related attainment gap in schools by 2026. Since then the gap for primary literacy is just one percentage point smaller. At that rate of progress it would take more than a century to close.
December 9, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Nicola Sturgeon promised to close the poverty-related attainment gap in schools by 2026. Since then the gap for primary literacy is just one percentage point smaller. At that rate of progress it would take more than a century to close.
The fishing industry in North East Fife struggles to recruit skilled crew. Willie questioned the further education minister about increasing the provision of training opportunities in local communities so that more people can start a career in the sector.
December 5, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The fishing industry in North East Fife struggles to recruit skilled crew. Willie questioned the further education minister about increasing the provision of training opportunities in local communities so that more people can start a career in the sector.
There has been real progress to increase the number of people from disadvantaged backgrounds going to university in Scotland, but there are also challenges which have seen that progress stall, including the failure to close the poverty-related attainment gap in schools. 1/2
December 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
There has been real progress to increase the number of people from disadvantaged backgrounds going to university in Scotland, but there are also challenges which have seen that progress stall, including the failure to close the poverty-related attainment gap in schools. 1/2
Private nurseries have been clear that the funding rate they received from councils does not cover their costs. This means they have to make up the difference from non-funded places or threatens their viability.
December 4, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Private nurseries have been clear that the funding rate they received from councils does not cover their costs. This means they have to make up the difference from non-funded places or threatens their viability.
It was a moving experience to attend the opening of the memorial garden in St Monans last week. The memorial was planned to mark the 150th anniversary of the storm in which 37 fishermen from the East Neuk were killed off the coast of East Anglia.
November 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
It was a moving experience to attend the opening of the memorial garden in St Monans last week. The memorial was planned to mark the 150th anniversary of the storm in which 37 fishermen from the East Neuk were killed off the coast of East Anglia.
Workers in the oil and gas industry deserve a just transition which protects jobs and makes the most of economic opportunities in the renewables sector. But so far they are being let down by a Scottish Government which was caught off guard and... 1/2
November 26, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Workers in the oil and gas industry deserve a just transition which protects jobs and makes the most of economic opportunities in the renewables sector. But so far they are being let down by a Scottish Government which was caught off guard and... 1/2