Willie Rennie MSP
@willierennie.bsky.social
Scottish Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on education, economy and social justice
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
Progress in improving children's dental health has stalled since the pandemic, and the gap between the best and worst off is increasing. The Scottish Government needs to end the crisis in NHS dentistry.
November 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Progress in improving children's dental health has stalled since the pandemic, and the gap between the best and worst off is increasing. The Scottish Government needs to end the crisis in NHS dentistry.
Last week the St Andrews Fairtrade Town Campaign Group marked the twentieth anniversary of St Andrews as a Fairtrade town. I joined members of the group to celebrate this great achievement and to reflect on the work which has been done to maintain this status.
November 25, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Last week the St Andrews Fairtrade Town Campaign Group marked the twentieth anniversary of St Andrews as a Fairtrade town. I joined members of the group to celebrate this great achievement and to reflect on the work which has been done to maintain this status.
Earlier this week I met with Moffat & Williamson to discuss changes to local bus services but also the possible introduction of franchising. This could lead to greater local control of services and prevent constant changes to routes and timetables. I am keen to explore these issues further.
November 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Earlier this week I met with Moffat & Williamson to discuss changes to local bus services but also the possible introduction of franchising. This could lead to greater local control of services and prevent constant changes to routes and timetables. I am keen to explore these issues further.
Teachers and staff do great things in schools to transform young people's lives, but too often the government is standing in their way. Ministers used to say that education was their priority, but now they lack a vision for dealing with the many challenges faced in schools.
November 21, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Teachers and staff do great things in schools to transform young people's lives, but too often the government is standing in their way. Ministers used to say that education was their priority, but now they lack a vision for dealing with the many challenges faced in schools.
Reposted by Willie Rennie MSP
Whilst I didn't win it was still a huge compliment to be shortlisted for Local Politician of the Year!
November 20, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Whilst I didn't win it was still a huge compliment to be shortlisted for Local Politician of the Year!
The SNP have had years to make good on their 2021 manifesto promise to reduce teacher class contact time by ninety minutes per week but have yet to deliver it. Now they have to show that the education secretary's new plan is serious and can prevent strikes.
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The SNP have had years to make good on their 2021 manifesto promise to reduce teacher class contact time by ninety minutes per week but have yet to deliver it. Now they have to show that the education secretary's new plan is serious and can prevent strikes.
Whatever interpretation the SNP tries to put on the figures, people in Scotland feel the burden of higher taxes. The government needs to take that into account in the budget process.
November 20, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Whatever interpretation the SNP tries to put on the figures, people in Scotland feel the burden of higher taxes. The government needs to take that into account in the budget process.
We need a joined-up and flexible college and apprenticeship system which responds to the needs of employers and ensures that young people and people looking to gain new skills are given the opportunities they deserve.
November 20, 2025 at 10:19 AM
We need a joined-up and flexible college and apprenticeship system which responds to the needs of employers and ensures that young people and people looking to gain new skills are given the opportunities they deserve.
Huge congratulations are due to the Scotland men's football team for their landmark achievement in qualifying for the world cup.
I asked the health and sport secretary whether the government will support fan parks and changed licencing arrangements for late-night matches.
I asked the health and sport secretary whether the government will support fan parks and changed licencing arrangements for late-night matches.
November 19, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Huge congratulations are due to the Scotland men's football team for their landmark achievement in qualifying for the world cup.
I asked the health and sport secretary whether the government will support fan parks and changed licencing arrangements for late-night matches.
I asked the health and sport secretary whether the government will support fan parks and changed licencing arrangements for late-night matches.
Despite the two ferries being years late and taxpayers shouldering hundreds of millions of pounds of overspend, no SNP minister has ever lost their job over the scandal.
November 19, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Despite the two ferries being years late and taxpayers shouldering hundreds of millions of pounds of overspend, no SNP minister has ever lost their job over the scandal.
ExxonMobil have announced that they plan to close the ethylene plant at Mossmorran early next year. I asked the Deputy First Minister why this seemed to come as a surprise to the Scottish Government when the challenges facing the plant have been known for years.
November 19, 2025 at 10:40 AM
ExxonMobil have announced that they plan to close the ethylene plant at Mossmorran early next year. I asked the Deputy First Minister why this seemed to come as a surprise to the Scottish Government when the challenges facing the plant have been known for years.
Council franchising of bus services could lead to greater local control and prevent constant changes to routes and timetables. But the Scottish Government is moving too slowly to give councils this power.
November 18, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Council franchising of bus services could lead to greater local control and prevent constant changes to routes and timetables. But the Scottish Government is moving too slowly to give councils this power.
SNP ministers claim to be leading the world on the response to climate change, but they have just delayed legislation on home heating which was already years overdue.
November 18, 2025 at 3:14 PM
SNP ministers claim to be leading the world on the response to climate change, but they have just delayed legislation on home heating which was already years overdue.
I spoke to secondary school headteachers from across the country at the School Leaders Scotland conference today. I was particularly keen to address parity of esteem between vocational and academic options.
November 14, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I spoke to secondary school headteachers from across the country at the School Leaders Scotland conference today. I was particularly keen to address parity of esteem between vocational and academic options.
I was glad to meet with young people taking part in the Agritourism Futures Scholarships today in parliament. Their passion for developing agritourism businesses across Scotland was clear, but so were the obstacles and challenges they face. We discussed their ideas to help the sector thrive.
November 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I was glad to meet with young people taking part in the Agritourism Futures Scholarships today in parliament. Their passion for developing agritourism businesses across Scotland was clear, but so were the obstacles and challenges they face. We discussed their ideas to help the sector thrive.
I'm grateful to St Andrews Links and Skills Development Scotland for inviting me to visit as part of Scottish Careers Week 2025, to learn about the work experience opportunities they provide to young people.
November 13, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I'm grateful to St Andrews Links and Skills Development Scotland for inviting me to visit as part of Scottish Careers Week 2025, to learn about the work experience opportunities they provide to young people.
The SNP's latest currency plans don't seem to inspire confidence even amongst independence campaigners, let alone the wider public. They still haven't come up with answers to the hard economic problems of wanting to break up the UK.
November 12, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The SNP's latest currency plans don't seem to inspire confidence even amongst independence campaigners, let alone the wider public. They still haven't come up with answers to the hard economic problems of wanting to break up the UK.
I support Daniel Johnson's member's bill on restraint and seclusion in schools, but it was important to put questions to him when he appeared at the education committee about how it will work in practice.
November 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I support Daniel Johnson's member's bill on restraint and seclusion in schools, but it was important to put questions to him when he appeared at the education committee about how it will work in practice.
Wendy Chamberlain and I attended Remembrance commemorations in St Andrews and Cupar on Sunday. It is important to remember those who served and died in past wars so that future generations can live in peace.
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Wendy Chamberlain and I attended Remembrance commemorations in St Andrews and Cupar on Sunday. It is important to remember those who served and died in past wars so that future generations can live in peace.
The extremes of flooding and water scarcity that we have seen in recent years make it all the more urgent for the Scottish Government to commit to river catchment management plans. We need to make the most of natural flood prevention measures, with advice and incentives in place for landowners.
November 7, 2025 at 9:40 AM
The extremes of flooding and water scarcity that we have seen in recent years make it all the more urgent for the Scottish Government to commit to river catchment management plans. We need to make the most of natural flood prevention measures, with advice and incentives in place for landowners.
The Scottish Government published its draft climate change plan today, but it contained very little which was new. Ministers need to solve the problems in the Home Energy Scotland scheme which is causing energy efficiency companies to lose customers because of unnecessary bureaucracy.
November 7, 2025 at 9:37 AM
The Scottish Government published its draft climate change plan today, but it contained very little which was new. Ministers need to solve the problems in the Home Energy Scotland scheme which is causing energy efficiency companies to lose customers because of unnecessary bureaucracy.
I joined party leaders in marking Remembrance Sunday later this week ahead of First Minister Questions. As memories of the two world wars fade it is all the more important that we commit to remembering the sacrifice which has been made during times of war.
November 6, 2025 at 1:52 PM
I joined party leaders in marking Remembrance Sunday later this week ahead of First Minister Questions. As memories of the two world wars fade it is all the more important that we commit to remembering the sacrifice which has been made during times of war.
Private hospital admissions reached a record high of 50,000 in Scotland last year. With thousands of people on long NHS waiting lists are being left with no option but to use their savings to pay for private treatment, the SNP government is effectively privatising the NHS by stealth.
November 6, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Private hospital admissions reached a record high of 50,000 in Scotland last year. With thousands of people on long NHS waiting lists are being left with no option but to use their savings to pay for private treatment, the SNP government is effectively privatising the NHS by stealth.