Willie Rennie calls on Scotland to clear out Tory 'incompetents' during conference speech

The Scottish LibDem leader mounted an attack on the Tories both north and south of the Border, blasting the "shambles" of Theresa May's administration at Westminster.

And while the Scottish Tories have enjoyed a revival under Ruth Davidson — who is due to appear on the celebrity Great British Bake Off — Rennie branded them the "baked alaska of politics", claiming they were "warm, fluffy and attractive on the outside" but had an "ice-cold heart".

Hitting out at the Tory government at Westminster, Rennie told the Scottish LibDem conference in Dunfermline: "The shambles of the Conservatives in London is now so stark it makes John Major's government of the 1990s look like a beacon of competence, unity and purpose."

Under Major, the Tories were hit by sleaze allegations and were ridden with infighting over Europe.

But Rennie said the "only good thing" was that all 12 of the Scottish MPs Major had were ousted in 1997.

"They all lost their seats, every single one of them," he said.

"The events of this week show it is time for another clear-out.

"Our country deserves better than incompetents in London and pastel-tinted fakes in Scotland."

He hit out at the Tories over Brexit, and said May must not shy away from having a debate on immigration in a bid to "salvage something positive for Britain" from her "failing and destructive administration".

Rennie said if the Tories keep their pledge to cut immigration after leaving the European Union, this would "damage our economy and public services" leaving many feeling "betrayed".

In contrast, he likened the LibDem approach to immigration to Paddington Bear — saying they were "open, warm-hearted, generous" and "embracing the world"

He continued his attack on the Tories, saying the way the Conservatives were "damaging" Britain "ought to be a crime".

The Scottish LibDem leader said: "The Prime Minister loses her majority, loses her authority and loses control of her cabinet."

He added: "At one of the most important periods in our politics, this is not a time for incompetents."

His speech also included an attack on the SNP who, after 10 years in government at Holyrood, have "no fizz left in their Irn-Bru".

He attacked the SNP record on health, education, policing and colleges, telling party members: "The SNP are on their way out and they can't hide it."

Rennie was also scathing of former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond, who is to host a weekly talk show on the Russian state-funded RT channel.

"It is a disgrace that Alex Salmond has decided to supplement his first minster's pension by legitimising a Russian organisation whose mission is to undermine democracy," he said.

Jo Swinson said at the conference that the LibDems must challenge the "populist blame game" by providing radical solutions to the problems 21st century Britain is facing.

Swinson, the party's deputy leader, claimed subsequent referendums on Scottish independence and European Union membership had left the UK divided, with public "resentment" towards a political system that "feels broken"

But she insisted there is "an appetite for change" and that her party could provide the "radical liberal solutions to the many future challenges hurtling down the tracks at us".

With an ageing population and increasing numbers of jobs at threat from the improving technology and automation, the LibDem deputy leader said the Government should have already started planning for the future.

But she hit out at Theresa May's administration, saying: "The Conservative Government limps from one crisis to the next, running away from votes in Parliament, ministers clinging on courtesy of a weak Prime Minister."

She claimed the Tory Government "isn't doing enough to prepare for next month, let along the next decade".

Swinson, who recaptured the East Dunbartonshire seat she had previously held from the SNP in June's general election, continued: "It's just Brexit at all costs, whatever the cost — and we know the cost will be huge.

"There is no room for anything else. They are so obsessed with the constitutional question they have taken their eye off the ball."

Speaking at the Scottish LibDem conference in Dunfermline, Fife, she argued that the Government had "doubled down on a hard Brexit instead of trying to bring the country together".

To counter this she said her party "must seek positive, radical, 21st century, liberal solutions", adding that "this is not a time for incremental change".

With up to 10 million jobs at threat because of automation in the next 15 years, Swinson said: "The march of the robots into our workplaces means we need to rethink jobs.

"Machines still have limits, and will continue to do so. They cannot empathise or accurately mimic the full complexity of human interaction, and there are few signs they will be able to do so in the near future.

"Increasingly, this will be what separates us from them. Our very humanity will be more precious than ever.

"Our ageing population requires a growing care sector. Care work should no longer be dismissed as low paid and unskilled.

"Instead we need a care revolution to place caregiving where it belongs: as a vital and hugely valued part of our society, with well-paid staff recognised for the significant skills they bring."

She also called for more investment in renewable energy, a quicker phasing out of traditional petrol and diesel cars, and greater use of technology in the NHS.