The Scottish Liberal Democrats have launched their manifesto for the 2024 General Election
The party's plans include a £500m "rescue package" for care, which it says will enable people to be released from hospital and relieve pressure on the NHS
The manifesto also contains pledges to invest £170m in Scottish agriculture and ensure everyone has a warm home
The proposals were launched by Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton and deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain
Cole-Hamilton drove to the event on a tractor - nearly hitting his deputy twice as he attempted to stop
That's all from BBC Scotland's coverage of today's manifesto launch.
We'll be running another live page tomorrow covering Scottish Labour's manifesto launch.
You can catch up with rest of the day's news on the BBC Scotland website.
Today's writers were Bryn Palmer and Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce.
The page was edited by Claire Diamond.
As we bring our live page coverage to a close, here are the key points from today's manifesto launch.
Speaking at Craigie's Farm near Edinburgh, Alex Cole-Hamilton says the Liberal Democrats are the "party of rural Scotland" and will continue to support the agricultural sector with a guaranteed £170m investment to repair an industry he says has been "largely left to rot by both governments".
His party alsp pledges to "fix the broken care system" through the creation of a new minimum wage of £13.44 for the paid care workforce and an additional £1,000 for Scotland's unpaid carers through the Carer's Allowance.
Cole-Hamilton says the newly launched manifesto has "a lot about mental health services" which they pledge to invest in by trebling the Digital Services tax, "undoing the harm the social media giants have done".
During a BBC interview after the manifesto launch, Alex Cole-Hamilton defends the Liberal Democrats’ decision to abandon plans to try to rejoin the European Union in the next parliament, insisting it is “not realistic” in that timeframe.
The Scottish leader of the party says Libs Dems will “always be passionate Europeans” and have set out in their manifesto a “clear pathway, brick by brick” to re-establishing “sensible relations with our friends on the continent”.
The Lib Dems want to see free movement of people under the age of 35 to live, work and travel in Europe unimpeded as a stepping stone towards full membership of the single market in future.
“It is not realistic that we are going to reverse Brexit in this parliament, or even the one after that, but there will come an election when it is on the ballet paper,” Cole-Hamilton says.
“It is not just possible, it is in our demonstrable national interest. The ruin that Brexit has caused in terms of goods, people, capital and services – making it harder to do business and find a skilled workforce – has been a disaster for Britain.
“Only the Lib Dems are offering a viable solution as to how we get back into the heart of Europe – it is realistic, pragmatic and utterly remorseless. But we have to bring people with us and recognise where we are.”
Alex Cole-Hamilton nearly hits Wendy Chamberlain with tractor
As we reported earlier, Alex Cole-Hamilton arrived at his party's manifesto launch on a tractor.
He drove it round the corner where his deputy, Wendy Chamberlain, was waiting.
But he nearly hit her - twice.
You can watch the moment on the clip above.
Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor
In the past, Lib Dems have tended towards emphasis on local economies and small businesses, linking tax rises to priorities such as the health service.
Not so much this time. The economic emphasis has shifted to larger-scale industrial strategy - supporting strategic sectors to grow, driven by new technology and supported by government investment banks. The manifesto highlights the case for improved trade and international co-operation.
The more local part is where central government is intended to work with partners at regional level, and devolved government including the one at Holyrood. Big banks are to be asked to create some system of more local banking - details to follow?
Lib Dems have avoided much of the Conservative-Labour flak over tax, as few, if any, expect them to be applying these policies from the Treasury. But if headroom allows, they would prioritise a rise in the starting threshold for tax, now at £12,570 throughout the UK.
On tax rises, they want to clobber big bank profits, social media and other tech giants, capital gains tax loopholes by the wealthy and the use of share buy-backs by company directors who want to push up their share prices.
These are politically easy targets and claimed to bring in improbable amounts in revenue. But alongside Lib Dem spending pledges, including expensive ones on welfare and social care, they are not on a scale to solve the big dilemmas for the next government on already high taxation, public service shortcomings, and demographic challenges ahead.
Lucy Adams
Social affairs correspondent, BBC Scotland
Some of the Lib Dems' policies for crime and justice lack of Scottish-specific detail – despite these areas being devolved to Holyrood.
The party pledges to increase funding to the UK-wide National Crime Agency and work on an improved police response to mental health.
On housing, the Lib Dems do highlight the well documented “emergency” north of the border and promise to tackle it with a national housing plan which would ensure more new affordable housing and bring back into use thousands of long-term empty homes.
Lucy Adams
Social affairs correspondent, BBC Scotland
One of the Lib Dems' offerings is around supporting new parents - with enhanced parental leave and a "toddler top-up".
You can read more about these policies here.
They say these policies could be implemented "when the public finances allow” – which may well mean that it is highly unlikely to ever happen.
In an interview with the BBC, Alex Cole-Hamilton admits his party have one eye on the next Scottish Parliament election - due in 2026 - as they set out their agenda in the current general election campaign.
The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader launched his party's manifesto today, adamant it will make gains in both Westminster on 4 July and in Holyrood in two years' time.
"All the political barometers we have seen - whether it's opinion polls or by-election results - show us that the last days of this SNP government are upon us," he told BBC Scotland.
"As soon as this election is over, we will be focusing on the change that is coming for Scotland as well. Lib Dems have the beating of the SNP in large parts of Scotland - from Coupar to Cape Wrath, from Mallaig to Milngavie, from Cramond to Kirkwall.
"We are going to beating SNP MPs and soon at Holyrood as well. Change is coming, and the Lib Dems are going to be part of what comes next."
Image source, PA MediaAlex Cole-Hamilton is leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
He took up the party leader role in 2021, taking over from Willie Rennie after a decade at the helm.
He is also the MSP for Edinburgh Western.
Mr Cole-Hamilton was born into a Liberal Democrat family and helped to deliver leaflets during the 1987 general election campaign at the age of nine.
After studying politics and international relations at the University of Aberdeen he worked for children's charities including YouthLink Scotland and Aberlour until he was elected to Holyrood in 2016.
The father-of-three has said it was his experience of working with vulnerable children, and what he saw as the parliament's failure to help them, that inspired him to get into politics.
Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland health correspondent
Fast access to a GP and an NHS dentist are the sort of pledges that go down well with voters.
But in Scotland these commitments are up to the Holyrood government to make, so it can confuse voters when they're asked to elect MPs to Westminster.
The Lib Dems may just want to shine a light on areas where they feel the SNP are failing.
Even if we overlook this issue, it's not clear how the Lib Dems are going to achieve their aims, without any detail on how many new GPs or dentists they want to recruit in Scotland.
The number of patients registered to GPs has been going up, while the number of fully-qualified, full time GPs has decreased slightly. The Lib Dems say they will take the pressure off by employing a broader range of health specialists, like mental health nurses or physiotherapists in practices. But doctors say they often struggle to fill vacancies for these positions.
While more dentists are choosing the private sector over the NHS, Scotland does fare slightly better than other parts of the UK when it comes to access. But the Lib Dems say they will put pressure on the SNP government to bring dentists back into the NHS and to cut red tape that stops overseas dentists working in Scotland.
The reality is, recruitment and retention is a huge issue for the health service at all levels - in Scotland and the whole of the UK.
We are well into the second half of the election campaign and parties are intensifying their efforts at trying to win over undecided voters and motivate their core supporters.
While the Liberal Democrats are launching their tailored Scottish manifesto today, the other parties are also out on the campaign trail.
Image source, PA MediaJohn Swinney has hot-footed it to Stornoway after being in Munich on Friday for Scotland's opening Euros match against Germany
First Minister John Swinney has returned home from Munich, where he was cheering on the men's football team in the Euros.
Now in Stornoway, in the Western Isles, he says he wants those on low incomes, with disabilities and the elderly to pay less on their bills, with the party suggesting they be cut in half.
The Scottish Conservatives intend to focus on the problems facing the hospitality industry, with Meghan Gallacher, deputy leader of the Scottish Tories, in Annan to highlight how they would help.
And Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is in South Queensferry to unveil the party's campaign bus, which will visit many battleground seats before 4 July.
Alex Cole-Hamilton and Wendy Chamberlain have spent the morning at Craigie's Farm near Edinburgh, launching the Scottish Liberal Democrats manifesto.
Cole-Hamilton started the morning with a tractor ride before unveiling the party manifesto.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA MediaThe pair then took a walk around the farm with Cole-Hamilton leading Cammie the pony and Chamberlain leading Wendy the Clydesdale horse.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA MediaChamberlain and Cole-Hamilton went on to sample some of the strawberries grown at Craigie's Farm.
Image source, PA Media
Lynsey Bews
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Alex Cole-Hamilton has been doing his round of media interviews at the party’s Scottish manifesto launch.
He’s been talking about “a big leap forward” in this election. His party has ambitions of replacing the SNP as the third largest party at Westminster.
And if that happens, the Lib Dems think they can increase their influence over decisions take by both the Scottish and UK governments.
Mr Cole-Hamilton also has an eye on another election - the next Scottish Parliament one, due in 2026.
That’s why he’s keen to talk about devolved policy areas, like mental health.
And while that’s controlled by the Scottish government, the funding comes from Westminster - making it relevant at this election, and at the next Holyrood vote.
Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor
One of the most striking things about this manifesto is that it barely bothers to mention Scottish independence.
Ten years on from the referendum, the Liberal Democrats believe the conversation has moved on so much that there’s no need to make more than a passing reference to their opposition to a second vote on whether Scotland should be in or out of the UK.
Instead, they talk a bit about new ways of sharing power across the UK. For example, they suggest the devolved governments should be more involved in shaping immigration policy on work and student visas.
There is no mention of Brexit either. But the Lib Dems do talk about improving relations with European countries and there’s a nod to the party’s long term ambition to return the UK to EU membership.
Much of this manifesto is focused on devolved policy like health and social care but they seek to make their Westminster policy agenda more relevant by talking about giving Holyrood extra funding or encouragement to follow their lead.
The Lib Dems would of course need to win a share of power at Westminster to implement their plans and on current polling trends that looks unlikely.
The Lib Dems have also outlined measures to give parents more flexibility in the months after babies are born to help them combine work and family life.
The party has pledged to:
The party adds that "when the public finances allow", its ambition is to give all families six weeks of use-it-or-lose-it leave for each parent, paid at 90% of earnings, plus 46 weeks of parental leave to share between themselves as they choose, paid at double the current statutory rate.
Today, the Scottish Lib Dems are focused on launching their manifesto.
But the UK party released its manifesto last week.
You can read about some of the key policies they announced here.
This morning the UK party is campaigning on its policy to expand fuel duty relief.
They want it extended to 20 new areas to support motorists in rural communities.
UK leader Sir Ed Davey says "a real rescue plan" is needed to support rural communities struggling with "outrageous pump prices".
The party suggested rural parts of Scotland, England and Wales should be included in the scheme.
It currently applies to 21 areas across the country including the Highlands and Orkney and Shetland as well as the Isles of Scilly and three postcode districts in England.
The Liberal Democrats earlier pledged in their manifesto , externalto help motorists in rural areas who face higher fuel costs by expanding rural fuel duty relief - but have now expanded on their plans.
Fuel retailers can apply for relief of 5p per litre of petrol or diesel, which is then passed on to motorists through reductions in price at the pump.
You can read more about this policy here.
Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor
There's a reminder from the Lib Dems of how much Westminster employment law applies to Scotland, with extensive plans to change it.
Some Lib Dem plans go further than Labour plans, which is frustrating to Labour's trade union affiliates.
The two parties' manifestos reflect the difference between a party cautiously planning on being in power, and a party which sees itself pushing and influencing ministers from the opposite side of the Commons.
The more distinctive policies include several measures to reduce the precarious nature of "gig", or self-employed contractor, work.
The Lib Dems would like to enact a 20% premium on minimum hourly pay rates for workers on zero-hour contracts, with a right to ask for a contract after 12 months.
They argue for fairer tax and allowances between employed and self-employed people, and pensions and sick pay for such dependent contractors.
They argue also for a radical re-working of company law, requiring firms to re-direct their purpose to society and the environment, as well as to shareholders. That could have far-reaching implications.
Poor productivity, one of the key challenges for the UK economy, would be addressed with improved incentives to invest in training, recognising also that the next government will have to tackle the regulation of artificial intelligence.
Plus, there's the idea of "reviewing the UK excise duty structure to better support whisky exports".
That may prove difficult, as UK excise does not apply to exports.
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Alex Cole-Hamilton’s Lib Dems are in a curious position in this election.
Due to boundary changes, Scotland will have two fewer seats at this election.
It's complicated, but when you work out the final scores it's the Lib Dems who are down two seats.
Due to an influx of SNP voters into two of their heartlands - North East Fife and Caitherness, Sutherland and Easter Ross - for this election they are treated as SNP territory rather than Lib Dem seats.
This leaves the Lib Dems technically only defending two seats (Orkney and Shetland and Edinburgh West).
The silver lining though is that even if the party returns the same four MPs they had before, they will technically have gained two seats.
You can hear Alex-Cole Hamilton cheering about doubling their representation already.
The challenge for the party is that beyond the four seats they took in 2019, and the one Jo Swinson lost in East (now known as Mid) Dunbartonshire, they don’t really have many clear targets.
Their support has become very localised; results have been all-or-nothing for a while.
So this is almost a bit of a building-block election for Alex Cole-Hamilton, his first as party leader. He will be hoping the party can win the seats where it’s in serious contention, and to climb back into a more relevant position in others.
That would then give them more of a springboard for the 2026 Holyrood election – for all that talk of springboards right now only conjures images of Ed Davey in a wetsuit.
Image source, PA MediaThe party's pledge to "lift up Scottish education" includes measures to tackle the crisis in recruiting and retaining teachers.
It says it would strengthen pupil equity funding and prioritise building top-class leadership in schools, as well as develop support networks and career opportunities for teachers and pupil support assistants.
Their manifesto also outlines proposed measures to alleviate teachers' workloads, recruit more specialists in behavioural support, expand extracurricular activities and introduce a service pupil premium so that armed forces families in Scotland get the same benefit as those in England.