Excellent news - no charity understands or helps alleviate the wholesale consequences poverty better than this network. Citizens Advice Scotland tfn.scot/news/citizens-…

The education committee has heard evidence that some children are being placed on a 15-minute per week school timetable, with no further support, as a way of dodging the government's commitment in The Promise to end exclusions.

Education, Children and Young People Committee questioned Natalie Don-Innes MSP on progress towards the #Promise today. It is 8 yrs since care exp people told change will start to happen, and 5 yrs+ since the Promise was launched. With only 5 years left itis not going to be delivered. Evidence today on this included: 🧵

One LA has 40% Soc Worker vacancies = yp not getting a consistent SWer which they have appealed for. 15min timetables used to dodge exclusion statistics and reduced funding. Whilst South Ayrshire Council has a policy tabled today to ensure care experienced can continue to be excluded.

The number of registered foster care households has decreased from 3,540 in 2020 to 2,998 in 2023 – a fall of 15.3%. This is not off-set by an increased # of kinship carers

6 Years ago public education campaign was promised by Nicola Sturgeon. This would have educated the public on the way fwd and got broad based community support. Instead indicators are the public are less engaged.

Scottish Government 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 and Natalie Don-Innes MSP is scrambling, claiming any innovative local project as evidence of progress. But to try and extrapolate piecemeal actions into pretending transformational change is happening is a farce.

Stop hiding behind ‘we’ve consulted care experienced people' as a solution. They've repeatedly told you the problem, which data supports, so act to fix it! They’ll tell you when it works. Continuous consultation or tinkering with language is not an action or solution.

Well done @willierennie, Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP Douglas Ross MSP for lifting the veil and stating the truth. #ThePromise is not going to be delivered.

I’m proposing a motion at the Scottish Lib Dems conference 4th April proposing an alternative way forward. This can’t continue, it is limiting and costing lives.

Andy TACT Fostering on point on BBC Radio 4 Today. Public education on care is weak to non exisitent. If people understand then communities would better support families & children in need and those in care. Tomorrow ill raise this and need for wider reforms Scottish Lib Dems conference

Thanks Duncan, so much potential that can be tapped into and so little political leadership

This is a real concern. I stood in Westminster election last time & the reform candidate spent time trying to convince people in east lothian that migrants were our greatest problem. And that global warming is OK as tomatoes grow better with more CO2... bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Enjoyed the day out campaigning with Aisha Mir 🔶 and crew for the #Hamilton by-election. #southofScotland sun shining on the doors for Scottish Lib Dems

Why is it that we track drugs deaths, but despite promise after promise dont track the premature deaths of care experienced people? NB most of the deaths will tragically be the same people. But its easier to blame drugs than failed care. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

For 9 years #careexperienced people have been promised a transformed care system. Its failures have a lifelong impact. @ScottishGov have failed to deliver. TQ Education, Children and Young People Committee committee for hearing my evidence on why Children & care planning Bill is a sham. Time to reboot our efforts.

Thank you Willie Rennie for supporting our Borders campaign. Great reception on the doorstep from people who want change. Many people want pragmatic liberal solutions not divisive, destructive nationalism. Great to support DuncanDunlopScotLibDem and Ray Georgeson MBE - Borders Liberal Democrats 🔶 . Scottish Lib Dems

Harvey and Mohammed, both 15. One dead, one facing 16 years in prison. Two children’s lives lost — and not a single adult held to account. We can’t call this justice. We are better than this. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

A real pleasure to be Peebles High School this morning to see 1200 or so students piped in on their first day in the new Peebles High School. Thanks to all involved in creating an inspirational 'cathedral of learning '