Campaigns
What we won in the budget
Some times you have to sit down and talk to get things done.
That's what we did during the 2025 Scottish Budget, and the result? Our priorities will now be backed by hundreds of millions of pounds of government investment.
New services for babies born addicted to drugs
We secured an additional £2.6m in funding for drugs and neonatal services, with a special focus on creating new services to help babies who are born addicted to drugs.
As a youth worker, I saw first-hand how substance addiction blighted the lives of newborns and mothers, so I know just how transformational this investment will be.
Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
Additional funding for local healthcare
Liberal Democrats are making it easier to see a GP or a dentist near you.
We persuaded the government to invest in GPs so they can recruit more specialists in mental health, pharmacy and physiotherapy to work alongside them. This will ease the burden on GPs and allow more patients to be seen in good time.
On the SNP’s watch, fewer dentists are taking on NHS patients. As a result of this shortage, people are resorting to desperate measures, such as performing dental work on themselves, or flying to Goa and Turkey for treatment.
After fighting tooth and nail with the Scottish Government, Liberal Democrats have now secured key funding to increase the number of dentists in training and get more people seen on the NHS.
Dedicated long Covid support to be rolled out
Thanks to the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish Government will now spend millions more on dedicated support for long Covid, ME and Chronic Fatigue.
It will mean dedicated long Covid clinics being set up for the first time ever in Scotland.
Long Covid is an incredibly debilitating condition affecting thousands of Scots. It prevents people from getting back to work and significantly limits their day-to-day activities.
We have repeatedly called on the SNP government to step up to the plate and help long Covid sufferers.
A new Belford Hospital in Fort William
A replacement for the Belford Hospital in Fort William was first suggested in the 1990s, and was originally pledged by the SNP a decade ago.
Following our negotiations in the budget, we have secured a replacement for the Belford.
Funding for affordable homes
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have secured funding to build more affordable homes in communities across Scotland.
The SNP had shamefully cut the budget for affordable homes during a housing emergency, but thanks to tireless effort from the Scottish Liberal Democrats that budget will increase by 26%.
A replacement for Edinburgh Eye Pavilion
The Edinburgh Eye Pavilion is the only free-standing eye hospital in the country. It was first declared unfit for purpose in 2015 and is currently closed for repairs.
Since then, the SNP have dragged their heels, cancelling, u-turning and halting progress on a replacement for far too long.
But now we have secured the replacement of the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion.
Easing cost of living crisis for businesses
We secured business rates relief for 11,000 hospitality premises across Scotland, including local pubs and restaurants.
The new measure will help ease the cost of living for businesses including local B&Bs, hotels, hostels, pubs, nightclubs and restaurants.
More funding for college courses in key skills
£3.5m so that colleges can deliver the skills our economy and public services need, with new programmes focused on care and offshore wind to create a pipeline of skilled workers.
Securing a future for Corseford College
Scottish Liberal Democrats have secured the short-term future for the Corseford College, Scotland’s only complex needs college, which was threatened with closure.
Without this college, students would miss out on vital opportunities for learning and social interaction because mainstream colleges just aren’t in a position to deliver what these young people need.
Family carers given right to earn more
Family carers are the backbone of support for thousands of Scots. Without their love and their commitment, our health and social care services would collapse.
Thanks to changes won by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, they will now be able to earn more without fear of having government support withdrawn.
Saving Scottish hospices from collapse
We have help to pull hospices back from the brink after persuading the government to invest an additional £5m more in end-of-life care.
The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow previously said that if they didn’t receive proper funding, they would have to turn people away for the first time ever.
