Scottish Lib Dems 'squeezed every penny' out of budget deal, says Cole-Hamilton

The Liberal Democrats "squeezed every penny we could" out of the Scottish government in a budget deal that shows "we get things done", Alex Cole-Hamilton has told his party's spring conference.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader said the agreement, reached last week with SNP ministers, will see £300m of Holyrood money used to fund his party's priority issues.

Cole-Hamilton told party members it would result in a 10% increase in payments to colleges, as well as more money for hospices, autism services and ADHD assessments.

Delegates at the conference in Edinburgh heard there would also be increased support for the hospitality sector.

The SNP's £68bn budget, which sets out proposals for the next financial year and beyond, comes as voters in Scotland prepare to head to the polls for the Holyrood elections on 7 May.

Cole-Hamilton said some opposition parties "only fire out angry press releases and achieve absolutely nothing", while the Scottish Lib Dems are "prepared to get things done".

Scottish Labour confirmed its MSPs would abstain in budget votes, meaning the government's tax and spending plans for 2026-27 was able to pass with no need for deals.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader said: "Of course a single budget can't unpick all the damage done by 19 years of SNP government.

"We know the thing that will truly bring about the change that Scotland needs is a change of government.

"But budget by budget, bill by bill, case by case, we choose to use our leverage as MSPs, as an opposition party, to get things done.

"It isn't always easy, it's certainly not risk-free, but sometimes it's just the right thing to do."

Cole-Hamilton went on to tell party members that winning more seats in May's Scottish Parliament election will mean the Lib Dems can achieve more.

The Lib Dems currently have five MSPs at Holyrood. And Cole-Hamilton used his speech to highlight what he described as their success stories.

These, Cole-Hamilton said, included Jamie Greene's work on improving rights for victims, Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart securing funding for ferries, while Willie Rennie "stood up" for families and businesses impacted by flooding in Fife.

"That's what we've been up to with just five MSPs," Cole-Hamilton said. "Just imagine what we could do with more."

Appealing to voters across Scotland to back his party in the regional list ballot in May, he insisted: "The more MSPs we have, the more we can get done."

He said this included "turning around" Scotland's further education system - accusing the SNP of presiding over its "quiet death" for the past 19 years.

"The £70m we've just secured for colleges in the Scottish budget is a down-payment on our plan to get them motoring", Cole-Hamilton said.

He also vowed deliver a new programme of affordable homes for rent, reserved for key workers.

"In conjunction with the private sector and local authorities, eligibility will be decided locally, because we know that each area has its own specific needs.

"We're talking homes for care workers, teachers, engineers.

"We will help you live close to where you need to be. Because housing has held back industry and our public services for too long."

UK Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey will deliver his keynote speech to the party conference on Saturday.