Sally Pattle

As we head into the final leg of the General Election campaign, it is clear that only the Liberal Democrats are fighting to keep the UK together and part of the European Single Market, both of which are vital to ensuring job security and future economic growth in Scotland.

As a businesswoman who lives and works in Linlithgow, I understand the challenges that face local enterprise and I guarantee that I will work hard to attract greater investment in the constituency. The Liberal Democrats have a strong track-record on protecting small businesses and are vocal about cutting through the bureaucracy that hampers their potential for expansion.

I would like to increase transparency in the workings of organisations such as Business Improvement Districts, which have a patchy success rate at best.

I firmly believe that greater investment in vocational training and education are crucial to creating a secure jobs market, something which is at the heart of our manifesto.

Increasing the number of local apprenticeships, a start-up allowance to help entrepreneurs in their first six months and expanding the work of the British Business Bank are all practical ways the Liberal Democrats will introduce real benefits to the Scottish economy.

Recent GDP figures show Scotland is on the verge of recession. The Liberal Democrats are the only party that are pro-UK and pro-EU, our biggest markets. Continued free access to both of these areas is our best chance to avoid recession. Only a vote for the Liberal Democrats will secure this outcome.