Independence is ‘chaos multiplied’, warns Rennie

Scottish independence would bring “all the chaos of Brexit multiplied”, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has said.

Mr Rennie told Lib Dem members at the party conference in Bournemouth pursuing independence for Scotland “will simply add to our woes”, adding: “We need to learn the lessons of Brexit, not repeat the mistakes.”

The North East Fife MSP also claimed former Tory prime minister David Cameron had “humiliated our nation”.

He argued current prime minister Boris Johnson was “held hostage, a prisoner of Nigel Farage” and added of the Conservatives: “They are doubling down for no-deal, they are expelling their moderates.”

Mr Rennie also branded Labour’s opposition and position on Europe an “absolute embarrassment”.

He drew parallels between Brexit and Scottish independence, urging voters to “imagine the pain of breaking 300-year-old ties”.

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson received a huge boost from members over the weekend when they overwhelmingly backed her plan to revoke Article 50, should she be installed in Downing Street.

He added: “We must stop a no-deal Brexit, but we must stop Brexit, full stop.”

Jo Swinson used her closing speech to warn Boris Johnson being a woman will not stop her from toppling him as prime minister.

The East Dunbartonshire MP said: “Boris Johnson’s insults of choice are rather revealing – big girl’s blouse, girly swot.

“But let me tell you conference, if he thinks being a woman is somehow a weakness, he’s about to find out: it is not.”

The 39-year-old compared Mr Johnson to a dictator for suspending Parliament and sacking 21 Tory MPs for rebelling against him.

Ms Swinson told members that they must no longer view themselves as bit players in Westminster.

The party has 18 MPs – boosted by six defections this year alone – meaning it would need more than 300 additional seats to secure a majority in the House of Commons.

She told conference: “I am standing here as your candidate for prime minister.”

She added: “We can win, we must win. And to do so, we must build the biggest liberal movement this country has ever seen.

“We cannot be satisfied with a place on the fringes of British politics, narrow and pure, small and irrelevant.

“Only a Liberal Democrat government can deliver the fair, inclusive and open future that we deserve.”

We need to learn the lessons of Brexit, not repeat the mistakes. WILLIE RENNIE