Wendy Chamberlain

“We want to see speeds improved through fibre direct to each premises as standard and in addition, an unlimited usage cap by 2020 across the whole of the UK.

There is an urgent need to extend superfast broadband and modern mobile phone coverage to every corner of the country – not just those easiest to reach.

No area should be left in technology’s wake. Inclusive growth, that benefits every part of the country, is key to improving prosperity.

Local communities can thrive when they are properly connected to the wider economy.

However, the roll out of this vital digital infrastructure has been too slow.

Other countries are a great deal further ahead, meeting current demand and planning for the future.

With the City Deal, Stirling has started to move forward to become a digital hub, putting more local businesses on-line and providing development opportunities, better customer service and also the facilities modern visitors expect.

A wealth of public services are now able to be accessed online. People expect it. Businesses need modern and fast communications in order to access basic services, to compete for work, to be able to access new markets and to get the jobs done.

It is therefore simply unacceptable that large areas of the country remain in the digital dark age.

Rural areas are often the ones that would benefit the most from improved digital services from internet to 4G mobile, but they are usually at the back of the queue and face the largest barriers. Ask anyone who lives and works to the north and west of Callander.

As well as being open and internationalist and welcoming, our country needs to be connected.

That is the positive case that the Scottish Liberal Democrats are making at this election.”