Cole-Hamilton: Yousaf must switch off SNP soap opera and listen to Liberal Democrats

Speaking ahead of the Scottish Parliament returning to business this week, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today urged Humza Yousaf to “switch off the SNP soap opera” and use the time before the summer recess to tackle dentist shortages, sewage overflows, mounting NHS challenges, the cost of living and continued disruption to ferries. 

Specifically, Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling on Humza Yousaf to:  

1. Set out plans to replace the failing NHS Recovery Plan, which has only delivered spiralling waits and vacancies. This would include launching an urgent inquiry into the hundreds of avoidable deaths connected to the emergency care crisis, a burnout prevention strategy for NHS workers and a health and social care staff assembly.  
2. Urgently reform the funding structure for NHS dentists so that they are incentivised to take on NHS patients.  
3. Accelerate measures to improve monitoring and upgrade Scotland’s Victorian sewage system, after almost 19,000 Olympic swimming pools of sewage spilled into Scotland’s rivers and beaches last year alone.  
4. Launch an emergency nationwide insulation programme to bring down bills, create jobs and put a stop to Scotland missing its climate targets.
5. Apologise to islanders and establish a public inquiry into the Ferguson ferries fiasco, giving islanders the answers they deserve about why they and their businesses have been left without lifeline ferries after a series of breakdowns and horrendous delays.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:  

“For too long, the SNP has led our country down a dreary and divisive political path. It’s a path that left 1 in 7 Scots on a waiting list, households struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, and disruption to the livelihoods and healthcare needs of islanders- it also stinks of sewage.  

“The First Minister must use the time between now and summer to focus on what really matters. That's why I am setting out a series of key issues that need urgent action, from measures to support dentists, NHS staff and patients to tackling the sewage spilling into our rivers and waterways.

“He should also use this time to adopt my party’s plans to make every home a warm one and give islanders long-awaited answers for why his party has presided over a miserable saga of ferry scandals.  

“The time has come for Humza Yousaf to switch off the SNP soap opera and finally listen to Scottish Liberal Democrat policies. My party is crackling with ideas to tackle the real issues facing Scots, and that’s why we’re part of what’s next.”