Willie Rennie
Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for North East Fife (Constituency) 2016 - present day
Former MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (Region) 2011 - 2016
About Willie Rennie
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5804
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at their Constituency
Unit G3
Granary Business Centre
Coal Road
Cupar
KY15 5YQ
Phone: 01334 656361
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Willie is a member of 1 committee
Cross-party groups
Willie is a member of 1 cross-party group
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Pakistan
Deputy Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Willie does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Willie has 3 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Communities
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Party Spokesperson on Economy
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Party Spokesperson on Education
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles
Willie has had 11 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021
Party Spokesperson on the Constitution
Scottish Liberal Democrats
06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021
Party Spokesperson on Europe and External Relations
Scottish Liberal Democrats
06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021
Party Spokesperson on Finance
Scottish Liberal Democrats
06 May 2021 - 19 July 2021
Party Leader
Scottish Liberal Democrats
15 November 2017 - 04 May 2021
Parliamentary Bureau
Member
08 November 2016 - 25 September 2019
Equalities and Human Rights Committee
Substitute Member
08 November 2016 - 18 September 2019
Health and Sport Committee
Substitute Member
11 May 2016 - 17 May 2016
Parliamentary Bureau
Member
29 October 2014 - 23 March 2016
Devolution Further Powers Committee
Substitute Member
01 November 2012 - 29 October 2014
Referendum Scotland Bill Committee
Substitute Member
09 June 2011 - 01 May 2012
Scotland Bill Committee
Member
Register of interests
Willie's register of interests
MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.
Here is the register for Willie Rennie. The date of their initial statement was 14 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
From 16 September 2013 to July 2015 I was in receipt of a donation of £18,000 per annum from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Ltd (an organisation which funds political campaigns in the United Kingdom to promote democratic reform, civil liberties and social justice, of The Garden House, Water End, York, YO30 6WQ) for the services of a part-time researcher who worked in my office.
Overseas visits
From 25 to 28 November 2010 I visited Macedonia with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (of Artillery House, 11/19 Artillery Row, London, SW1P 1RT) to train politicians for democracy enhancement. Accommodation and travel costs of £1,300 were paid for by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (which supports the consolidation of democratic practices and institutions in developing democracies). [Amended interest 23 September 2021, ceased interest 23 September 2021]
From 19 to 23 February 2011 I visited Kurdistan with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (of Artillery House, 11/19 Artillery Row, London, SW1P 1RT) to train politicians for democracy enhancement. Accommodation and travel costs of approximately £1,500 were paid for by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (which supports the consolidation of democratic practices and institutions in developing democracies). [Amended interest 23 September 2021, ceased interest 23 September 2021]
From 25 February to 1 March 2007 I visited Washington DC to discuss the issues of UK/US defence trade, especially technology transfer issues, and UK/US defence policy. All travel and accommodation (approximately £2,500) was paid for by the UK Defence Forum (a non-partisan and not-for-profit organisation, of Grainger Suite, Dobson House, Regent Centre, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3PF, which informs the defence, security and peace debate by enabling politicians, diplomats, senior members of the armed forces, public servants, defence professionals, academics and others to exchange information and views on the future challenges of Britain's defence). [Amended interest 23 September 2021, ceased interest 23 September 2021]
From 4 to 6 February 2011 I visited Montenegro with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (of Artillery House, 11/19 Artillery Row, London, SW1P 1RT) to train politicians for democracy enhancement. Accommodation and travel costs of approximately £1,300 were paid for by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (which supports the consolidation of democratic practices and institutions in developing democracies). [Amended interest 23 September 2021, ceased interest 23 September 2021]
From 16 to 20 December 2010 I visited Sri Lanka with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (of Artillery House, 11/19 Artillery Row, London, SW1P 1RT) to train politicians for democracy enhancement. Accommodation and travel costs of £1,700 were paid for by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (which supports the consolidation of democratic practices and institutions in developing democracies). [Amended interest 23 September 2021, ceased interest 23 September 2021]
From 24 to 28 May 2008 I visited Israel and the Palestinian Authority with the Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel (LDFI) (of PO Box 57769, London, NW11 1GF). Air travel, some ground travel within Israel and the West Bank and some hospitality, to a total estimated value of £1,200 was paid for by LDFI (which supports and promotes policies which lead to peace and security for Israel in the context of a comprehensive and lasting Middle East peace settlement). Accommodation costs of approximately £500 were paid for by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (of 9 Yitzhak Rabin Blvd, Kiryat Ben-Gurion, Jerusalem 91035). [Amended interest 23 September 2021, ceased interest 23 September 2021]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
On 17 September 2021 I received an overnight stay and a meal from the Marine and Lawn Rusacks Hotel (of Pilmour Links, St Andrews, KY 169JQ). This was to mark the refurbishment of the hotel. The value of this was approximately £400 and I do not consider that this meets the prejudice test. [Registered 23 September 2021]
I am Director of the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation (MOJO).
I am a Patron of Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline.
I am a Trustee of the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. I receive no remuneration for this role.
From September 2011 to July 2012 I received research and administrative support from a Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) intern. The nominal cost to CARE of providing this intern fell below the threshold for registration.
I am a Patron of the International Fire and Rescue Association.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Willie Rennie has said in Parliament
These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.
Chamber meeting date: 13 January 2022
Scottish Qualifications Authority (Examinations Process)
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "To be frank, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has made a right mess of this. She issued two conflicting statements within two days, which included making a major announcement on Twitter, which is hardly the forum for such announcements…
Chamber meeting date: 13 January 2022
Scotland’s Marine Assessment 2020
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "The fishing fleet at Pittenweem and other harbours in Fife feel that they are being squeezed out by the increasing number of offshore wind farms in the Forth…
Education, Children and Young People Committee meeting date: 12 January 2022
Budget 2022-23
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "I am quite surprised by the cabinet secretary’s evidence. I do not think that she has given any acknowledgement to the fact that core school budgets will be cut by £100 million in this year’s settlement. Why is she not spitting mad about that…
Chamber meeting date: 11 January 2022
Labour Shortages
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "I am a bit of a Euro fanatic, but even I accept that the workforce shortages are not just because of Brexit…
Chamber meeting date: 29 December 2021
Covid-19
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "This week, it has been suggested that care home visiting should be stopped. I support—Inaudible.—for the mental wellbeing of residents; that is common sense. What does the First Minister have to say to anxious families about that…
Votes
How Willie Rennie has voted in Parliament
Find out how Willie Rennie has voted recently.
Tackling Drug Related Deaths Through the First Year of the National Mission
Submitted by: Sue Webber, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 13, 2022
Result 34 for, 70 against, 19 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Tackling Drug Related Deaths Through the First Year of the National Mission
Submitted by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 13, 2022
Result 23 for, 100 against, 0 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Mental Health and Wellbeing in Primary Care Services
Submitted by: Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Supported by: Sharon Dowey, Stephen Kerr
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Result 34 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Mental Health and Wellbeing in Primary Care Services
Submitted by: Carol Mochan, South Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Result 55 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Mental Health and Wellbeing in Primary Care Services
Submitted by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Result 54 for, 69 against, 0 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Willie Rennie in Parliament
Find out what motions Willie Rennie has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Willie Rennie has submitted in Parliament
These are the questions that this MSP has asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answer to these questions.
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reconsider its decision to redact the section on assumed liabilities of the business purchase agreement in relation to the Dalzell steelworks, as set out in the response to freedom of information request FOI/202100212787, a review of FOI/202100203997."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what legal advice it received in relation to the facilitation of the sale of the Dalzell steelworks, and whether it contained a single view or range of views on whether it complied with state aid rules."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government on what date (a) its officials first identified and (b) the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, or his predecessor, was first informed of (i) the existence of the liability in relation to the facilitation of the sale of the Dalzell steelworks and (ii) issues with this potentially breaking state aid…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the previous owners, Tata Steel, have liabilities in relation to the environmental remediation costs for the site of the Dalzell steelworks, and whether this is typical for the owners of similar former sites."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government for how long precisely it owned the Dalzell steelworks in 2016."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the total environmental remediation cost of the Dalzell steelworks it would be liable to pay under the agreement it facilitated in 2016 in the event that (a) the site is repurposed as a result of a decision by Liberty Steel and (b) the parent company ceases to exist, and what proportion other…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether Tata Steel provided it with an estimate of the cost of the total potential environmental remediation cost of the Dalzell steelworks upon purchasing the site in 2016."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it necessitated that it take ownership of the Dalzell steelworks for a short period in 2016, and what prevented Tata Steel selling the asset directly to Liberty House."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has (a) conducted and (b) commissioned on the total potential environmental remediation cost of the Dalzell steelworks."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) Tata Steel has any claim to the land upon which the Dalzell steelworks are situated in the event that Liberty House decides to close the site for reasons other than it ceasing to exist."
Awaiting answer
See all of Willie Rennie's written questions submitted in Parliament