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 not a member of any cross-party groups
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 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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
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.
I am a Patron of the International Fire and Rescue Association.
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.
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: 16 September 2021
Ambulance Cover (Mid Scotland and Fife)
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "Staff morale is at rock bottom now. Staff are feeling inordinate pressure and, to be frank, this investment comes far too late. Murdo Fraser is right—the problems were evident before the pandemic…
Chamber meeting date: 16 September 2021
Education Agencies (Recruitment)
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "Will it be possible to recruit staff who are able to produce timely guidance, unlike yesterday’s guidance, which notes that further guidance on this year’s qualifications will be produced in October…
Chamber meeting date: 16 September 2021
Fairer and More Equal Society
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "I hope that ministers were listening to that contribution, because it was one of the most powerful contributions that I have heard in the chamber for some time…
Chamber meeting date: 14 September 2021
Health and Social Care
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "I assume that the cabinet secretary will come on to the justification for the centralisation of social care. This will be the third such bureaucratic reorganisation since the Scottish Parliament was created…
Chamber meeting date: 9 September 2021
Deaths of John Yuill and Lamara Bell
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "I know Lamara Bell’s family—I am thinking of them today, as I have for many days over the past six years…
Votes
How Willie Rennie has voted in Parliament
Find out how Willie Rennie has voted recently.
A Land of Opportunity - Supporting a Fairer and More Equal Society
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 16, 2021
Result 67 for, 30 against, 20 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
A Land of Opportunity - Supporting a Fairer and More Equal Society
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Supported by: Foysol Choudhury, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 16, 2021
Result 25 for, 93 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
A Land of Opportunity - Supporting a Fairer and More Equal Society
Submitted by: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Supported by: Sharon Dowey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 16, 2021
Result 33 for, 65 against, 20 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Return to Normal GP Services
Submitted by: Humza Yousaf, Glasgow Pollok, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Supported by: Kevin Stewart, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Result 67 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Return to Normal GP Services
Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Supported by: Paul O'Kane, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Result 56 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 8 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: 2 August 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to routinely publishing (a) details of when it has (i) sought and (ii) obtained Queen's consent and (b) associated correspondence in advance of the passage of legislation."
Answered by: George Adam on 26 August 2021
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 2 August 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) provide details of what interests would determine whether it seeks Queen's consent under Rule 9…
Answered by: George Adam on 26 August 2021
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 2 August 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how many times it has sought Queen's consent in each year since 2007, broken down by the (a) title of the legislation and (b) date on which consent was (i) sought and (ii) obtained."
Answered by: George Adam on 26 August 2021
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 2 August 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government which pieces of legislation have been amended as a result of exchanges prompted by Rule 9…
Answered by: George Adam on 26 August 2021
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 16 August 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00855 by Humza Yousaf on 19 July 2021, whether it will provide equivalent information on (a)(i) amber- and (ii) yellow-coded calls and (b) the total number of calls responded to over the same period."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32985 by Joe FitzPatrick on 23 November 2020, whether it will provide an update on the figures to date."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 19 July 2021
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 1 July 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales on 23 April 2021 to overturn the convictions of sub-postmasters and postmistresses convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting on the basis of flawed evidence from the Post Office’s Horizon system, what steps are being taken by the Crown…
Answered by: Dorothy Bain on 16 July 2021
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 10 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers fishing for sandeels in Scottish waters to be compatible with the protection of seabird populations, and with achieving Good Environmental Status."
Answered by: Mairi Gougeon on 17 June 2021
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 10 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the levels of fishing for sandeels inside the Turbot Bank nature conservation marine protected area (MPA), in each year since it was designated as a MPA in 2014."
Answered by: Mairi Gougeon on 17 June 2021
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 10 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to safeguard sandeels in the North Sea."
Answered by: Mairi Gougeon on 17 June 2021
See all of Willie Rennie's written questions submitted in Parliament