Lib Dem ‘picking up pace’ Conference:

Scottish leader tells activists their party ‘has the momentum’

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has said the momentum is with his party as activists gather ahead of their autumn conference.

With the Liberal Democrats in Scotland having gained three seats from the SNP in June’s snap election, Mr Rennie said there had been “significant gains”

He also hailed new UK leader Vince Cable as being an “important economic thinker” and a “real asset” to the Lib Dems.

The conference in Bournemouth, which gets under way on Sunday, will be Mr Cable’s first since taking over the job from Tim Farron.

Mr Cable said the Liberal Democrats were now “significantly more influential than before the general election” in June, in which Conservative PM Theresa May lost her party’s Commons majority.

“With a hung parlia- ment, a weak Conservative government, a divided Labour party and the Brexit process under way, the Liberal Democrats can make a real difference to the future of our country,” Mr Cable added.

With four Lib Dem MPs elected in Scotland in June, Mr Rennie said the party was “growing again and we have momentum”.

He added: “We have some fantastic new elected representatives who are going to drive the party forward.

“We have a new leader in Vince whose experience as an important economic thinker is a real asset.

“The Conservatives are struggling in Westminster, Labour is leaderless in Scotland and the SNP are heading down the polling ladder. Liberal Democrats however can make a real difference to the future of our country.

“Going forward we will build a fresh, bright platform for change.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Willie Rennie tells the Lib Dem conference that the party is ready to move forward