Water quality issues not as bad in Scotlandpublished at 11:14 British Summer Time 17 June

11:14 BST 17 June

Kevin Keane
BBC Scotland environment correspondent

At every opportunity during this campaign, the Liberal Democrats have been bringing up the “national scandal” of sewage entering Scotland’s rivers and seas.

But the manifesto contains perhaps the first acknowledgement that it’s not the same scandal which has been uncovered in England where thousands of cases have been identified of sewage overflowing into rivers on dry days when the sewers should be able to cope.

Experts assure me that there are big differences north and south of the border.

For a start, our sewers are not under the same pressure from rapid population expansion.

But Scotland has also been a decade ahead in requiring new developments to separate household waste water from the rainwater which enters the drains on our streets.

Nevertheless, they pledge to call for a Clean Water Act in Scotland to update the sewer network and monitor every outflow.

And they want a blue flag system to identify the cleanliness of each of our rivers.

Lynsey Bews
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Image source, PA Media

They say never to work with children or animals.

Alex Cole-Hamilton and his deputy Wendy Chamberlain have dispensed with that rule, as their media event at Craigie’s Farm continues.

One of their key policies is about supporting farmers - you can read more about their policy here.

Image source, Getty Images

The party says they will "stop sewage being dumped in our rivers" and have called for a Clean Water Act in Scotland to update the sewage network.

This will monitor every sewage dump and publish binding reduction targets, introduce a blue flag system for our rivers, and introduce a complete ban on the release of sewage in protected areas such as bathing waters.

The Libs Dems have also pledged to pass a new Environmental Rights Act, recognising everyone’s human right to a healthy environment, as well as hold businesses to account for their responsibility to the environment.

The Lib Dems say they will make homes warmer and cheaper to heat with a 10-year emergency upgrade programme, starting with free insulation and heat pumps for those on low incomes.

The party will "drive a rooftop solar revolution" by expanding incentives for households to install solar panels, including a guaranteed fair price for electricity sold back into the grid.

The party has also pledged to invest in renewable power so that 90% of the UK’s electricity is generated from renewables by 2030.

Image source, Getty Images

On health and social care, the party's manifesto says "people should be in control of their own lives and health and everyone should get the care they need, when they need it, where they need it".

It outlines a series of pledges to support everyone getting "fast access to a GP" including an overhaul of the "SNP’s failed NHS Recovery Plan".

The Lib Dems would back measures that would lessen the workload on GPs and prioritise access to an NHS dentist.

The party says it would also "establish the world class mental health services Scotland needs" which it would fund by "taxing the social media giants who cause so much of the problem".

There are also measures, external to help boost cancer survival rates, halving the time for new treatments to reach patients, as well as to train, recruit and retain doctors.

On social care, the Lib Dems "want everyone to be able to live independently and with dignity".

Their pledges include opposing the Scottish government’s centralisation of social care as well as increasing the carer’s allowance and expanding eligibility for it,

According to the Scottish Lib Dems, here are their top priorities for the next parliament:

• Ensure everyone gets fast access to an NHS dentist and GP
• Transform mental health services, funded by taxing social media giants
• Insulate and upgrade homes to cut energy bills
• Fix Scotland's "broken" relationship with Europe
• Stop sewage dumping
• Tackle the climate emergency with a green jobs revolution

You can read the manifesto in full online, external.

Turning from policy and pictures to politics, Alex Cole-Hamilton says Lib Dem candidates, if elected, will be "strong local champions".

"We will stop sewage being dumped in our rivers, lift up Scottish education, and deliver warm homes that insulate you from the cost of living crisis," he vows.

"Our vision is of a better Britain where we work in partnership, restoring your faith in politics and fixing our broken relationship with Europe."

He continues: "Just like they Conservatives, the SNP have got to go. Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats can beat the nationalists in huge swathes of Scotland.

"Hope and change are just around the corner, you only need to vote for them."

He ends by urging the public to back his party.

As Alex Cole-Hamilton trundles up to the Scottish manifesto launch on a tractor, he contributes to a long history of Lib Dem leaders arranging eye-catching campaign photo calls.

Earlier in this election campaign, the party's UK leader, Sir Ed Daveym, made a splash on the general election campaign trail.

He was paddle boarding on Lake Windermere to make a point about the pollution of the UK's waterways (we'll have more on that policy later).

Image source, Getty Images

Davey continued to get involved in physical activities during a visit to an aqua jungle in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Image source, Getty Images

He's also taken a trip to Thorpe park and had a go on the Rush rollercoaster.

Image source, Getty Images

Slightly less thrilling, but in Scotland Alex Cole-Hamilton pledged his commitment to boost productivity - demonstrated on a visit to an Edinburgh hairdressing salon.

Image source, Getty Images

Th previous party leader in Scotland Willie Rennie, was a big fan of the photo op.

Here he is while campaigning for the Scottish local elections in 2017 with a ram during a visit to Mill House farm in Fife.

Image source, PA Media

During 2016's Holyrood campaign, Willie Rennie took a ride on a quad bike on a visit to Angus.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has made quite an entrance at the launch of his party’s manifesto on a farm.

Mr Cole-Hamilton tried his hand at tractor driving at Craigie’s Farm near Edinburgh.

Cole-Hamilton says the party will champion Scottish agriculture with a £170m investment.

He adds: "Our farmers are the best in the business but they have been taken for granted by governments in Edinburgh and London.

"We will also make it easier to trade with our European neighbours, address worker shortages and re-negotiate botched overseas trade deals that undercut our high standards.

Cole-Hamilton concludes that his party will stand up for farmers in every corner of the UK.

The Lib Dems havealo pledged to make Scotland's mental health services "world class".

This would mean giving every school pupil fast access to a mental health counsellor, new mental health staff working alongside GPs and A&Es, and extra help for businesses, backed by £150m from taxing social media companies.

The party says a £500m rescue package for care is at the heart of their offering.

This would, they say, enable people to be released from hospital which would relieve pressure on the NHS and giving a fair deal to family carers.

This package includes a plege to create a new Carer's Minimum Wage, boosting the minimum wage for care workers by £2 an hour.

They also want to give unpaid carers a fair deal, lifting Carer's Allowance and the Carer Support Payment by £1,040 a year.

The Lib Dems say their key policies are to:

• fix the broken care system,
• invest in Scottish agriculture
• and ensure everyone has a warm home.

Image source, Scottish Liberal Democrats

The Lib Dems' Scottish manifesto is now available.

The party have been handing out hard copies at their launch event, but you can also access the online version here, external.

Lynsey Bews
BBC Scotland political correspondent

It’s the start of a big week on the election campaign trial in Scotland, as the Scottish parties launch their manifestos.

First up, it’s the Scottish Liberal Democrats, who’ve chosen the picturesque Craigie’s Farm just outside Edinburgh for their event.

Somewhat unusually, there’s no speech expected from their leader Alex Cole-Hamilton. Instead, he’ll be doing a round of media interviews.

That’s after he tries his hand at some tractor driving - perhaps inspired by UK Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey’s colourful election photocalls.

The Scottish Lib Dems are about to begin their manifesto launch.

This morning's event is due to begin at about 10:30.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, the party's leader in Scotland, will be joined by his deputy Wendy Chamberlain for the launch event.

The next general election will take place on Thursday 4 July.

The UK is divided into 650 areas, called constituencies, and each of these elects one MP to represent local residents at Westminster.

Scotland will elect 57 MPs.

This time, you will have to present a valid form of photo ID at the polling station before casting your vote.

You can follow all the latest election news on the BBC Scotland website.

Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of the Scottish Liberal Democrat manifesto launch.

We will be publishing live text updates in this feed as well as pictures and analysis.