THE SCOTTISH LibDems have named a former police officer as the party’s new deputy leader.

Wendy Chamberlain, the party’s MP for North East Fife, will deputise for Scottish LibDem leader, Alex Cole-Hamilton.

A former police officer, Ms Chamberlain was first elected to Westminster in 2019, winning the seat from the SNP. She is the party’s chief whip at Westminster as well as spokesperson for Scotland, Wales and work and pensions.

Speaking at the announcement at the party’s Edinburgh headquarters, Ms Chamberlain said she was "so excited, so proud" to be named the new new deputy leader.

She said: "The SNP are leading Scotland from crisis to crisis. It is clear that they care more about breaking up the UK than educating children, providing good healthcare or tackling climate change.

"I am proud to work with Alex, and Willie, Beatrice and Liam who are consistently demanding better.

"It's not all rosy in Westminster either. I’m not sure who the bigger threat to the future of the UK is now. The SNP or this Tory Government, which cannot escape its own poor decisions, u-turns or sleaze. But it is not the SNP, nor Labour, who have taken meaningful action on this standards issue. – it is us, the Liberal Democrats.

"We are the party who demanded answers through my emergency debate application. We are the party who held the Government to account and forced action.

"We know that only the Liberal Democrats offer a real alternative opposition to government. Whether that is the SNP in Holyrood, or the Conservatives in Westminster.”

She added: "The Liberal Democrats were first to understand, the first to fight for properly devolved policy making – for policy making that really works for the people of Scotland, that ensures that powers and resources are deployed where they can be used to the greatest effect. And no other party has caught up "We know that the Scottish people will get the best results when we work together.

"Differences must be respected, and we must all be equals around the table. Then and only then will policies on trade, on immigration, on the environment – things people really care about – then will they work for all the people of the UK.

"Together we are greater than the sum of our parts. Together we can make change happen. Together we can provide new hope.

"When it comes to actual policies, and actual change, the Liberal Democrats are delivering.

"We want our country to thrive, to be strong, to be prosperous and to be fair.

"This is the vision we offer, and this is what I commit to fighting for as your deputy leader."

Mr Cole-Hamilton welcomed Ms Chamberlain to her new role, saying he was “absolutely over the moon” at the appointment.

Jenni Lang has been appointed the new convener of the Scottish LibDems.