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 online
Email: [email protected]
X (previously known as Twitter): @willie_rennie
Facebook: Willie's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5804
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
Unit G1
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 2 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Armed Forces and Veterans Community
Member
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 17 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021
Party Spokesperson on Finance
Scottish Liberal Democrats
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 - 19 July 2021
Party Leader
Scottish Liberal Democrats
05 May 2016 - 04 May 2021
Party Leader
Scottish Liberal Democrats
29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Finance
Scottish Liberal Democrats
08 September 2019 - 04 May 2021
Chief Whip
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
17 May 2011 - 23 March 2016
Party Leader
Scottish Liberal Democrats
12 November 2012 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Economy
Scottish Liberal Democrats
12 November 2012 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Infrastructure
Scottish Liberal Democrats
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
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 23 September 2022]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 23 September 2022]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 23 September 2022]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 23 September 2022]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 23 September 2022]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 23 September 2022]
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).
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.
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 23 September 2022]
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.
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: 18 April 2024
Adult and Child Disability Payments (Mid Scotland and Fife)
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "Such deaths, which have happened in the context of not only child disability payment but adult disability payment applications, bring into sharp focus the consequences of long waits…
Chamber meeting date: 17 April 2024
Water Management (Financial Support)
1. Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what new financial support will be available to farmers and land managers to manage water, including to prevent flooding of homes. (S6O-03292)"
Chamber meeting date: 16 April 2024
Free Bikes for School-age Children
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "The minister just waffled in response to Martin Whitfield. There was a clear election pledge that every child in poverty would have access to a free bike…
Chamber meeting date: 27 March 2024
Economic Inactivity
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "The Scottish Women’s Budget Group’s recent childcare survey found that 55 per cent of respondents said that the challenge of managing childcare was impacting on their ability to work…
Chamber meeting date: 27 March 2024
ScotWind Option Fees (Allocation of Income)
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD): "As we heard, for decades nationalists berated Margaret Thatcher for failing to create a sovereign wealth fund from oil and gas energy resources…
Votes
How Willie Rennie has voted in Parliament
Find out how Willie Rennie has voted recently.
Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, April 18, 2024
Result 20 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Alexander Burnett, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Pam Gosal, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Liam Kerr, Douglas Ross, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 53 for, 60 against, 5 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 88 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 15, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 64 for, 29 against, 25 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Katy Clark
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 20 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Willie Rennie in Parliament
Find out what motions Willie Rennie has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Willie Rennie has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 27 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many households received support through the Warmer Homes Scotland programme in each financial year of its operation, broken down by local authority area."
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 April 2024
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 10 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what new financial support will be available to farmers and land managers to manage water, including to prevent flooding of homes."
Taken in the Chamber on 17 April 2024
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 7 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the funding to remove fees from secondary school music tuition, which was announced in 2021, whether it engages with local authorities on the level of music tuition that they provide, and, if so, whether it is aware of any reduction in provision since 2021."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 March 2024
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 7 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any local authority ceasing its funding for secondary school music tuition and relying on the funding provided by the Scottish Government following the 2021 announcement of the removal of fees to fund this service."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 March 2024
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 7 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a reduction in the provision of secondary school music tuition would breach the 2021 arrangement to remove fees from such provision."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 March 2024
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 14 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what financial and advisory support is available to farmers to better manage land and rivers, including to prevent flooding."
Taken in the Chamber on 21 February 2024
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 24 January 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will deliver its commitment to reduce teacher class contact time by 90 minutes per week."
Taken in the Chamber on 1 February 2024
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 January 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide funding for grants for those households and businesses flooded during Storm Gerrit, in light of it providing such funding for those affected by Storm Babet."
Taken in the Chamber on 9 January 2024
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 30 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to publish its national action plan to tackle violence in schools."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 December 2023
Asked by: Rennie, Willie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 December 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure the sustainability of modern languages teaching in (a) schools, (b) universities and (c) colleges."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 December 2023
See all of Willie Rennie's questions submitted in Parliament