Dave Thompson MSP

Comments made by both the LibDem leader Nick Clegg that his party would initiate “savage” spending cuts and those of his self-styled chief-of-staff – Inverness MP Danny Alexander – that he would not make any “firm commitments” until they “can be paid for", have blown the gaff on the cynical and hypocritical calls for more spending by the LibDems in the Highlands says SNP MSP for Highland & Islands, Dave Thompson.

Lately Danny Alexander has been promising a spending bonanza for the Highlands by calling for more spending on roads (despite his party’s anti-roads policy), a cycling strategy, new international air services from Inverness, and increased funding for HIE.

Mr Alexander has failed to say how these would be paid for – particularly since his party leader is now demanding “savage” cuts and is already on record as saying he wants major roads projects cut by 90%.

Commenting Mr Thompson said: “These two quotes emanating from the disastrous LibDem conference in Bournemouth blow the gaff on the cynical hypocrisy they are playing on the people of the Highlands.

“Whilst they make wild uncosted promises of extra investment to the people of the Highlands, in Bournemouth they are calling for savage cuts and no commitments without any idea of how it is going to be paid for.

“In short they are playing a cynical and hypocritical game with the people of the Highlands. If not how will they pay for all these commitments they have made to the people of the Highlands?

“Hard choices have had to be made because of Westminster’s £500 million cuts. Yet, despite that, the SNP Government has protected investment in Highland roads.

“The SNP will invest £41.7 million on trunk roads in the Highlands in this session of the Scottish Parliament (2007-11). This dwarfs the £8.8 million that was spent during the tenures of LibDems Nicol Stephen and Tavish Scott when they were Transport Ministers (2003-2007).

“Whilst the LibDems make contradictory noises and cynically spin it is the SNP which is really delivering for the Highlands in these tough times."

Note:

Quoted yesterday Danny Alexander said: "I will not, and we must not, make any firm commitments to the British people for the next parliament until we are certain that it can be paid for."