SNP leadership candidate backs dualling as a 'top priority'
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SNP leadership hopeful Ash Regan has vowed to complete the dualling of both the A9 and the A96 saying: “I would concentrate on policies that help the economy and create jobs".
The Edinburgh MSP announced her candidacy for the top job on Saturday having previously come to prominence when she resigned as Minister for Community Safety in October, last year, in protest over the Gender Recognition Bill.
In an interview with the Sunday Mail, Ms Regan said she would 'not progress' the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) any further, after Westminster challenged it on equalities grounds leading to a potential legal fight.
Ms Regan was critical of the government’s record arguing the party needs a 'new direction and we need to reprioritise' adding: “We need to bring back unity, draw a line under certain things and move past them.”
She appeared to distance herself from SNP coalition partners the Greens by referencing the hugely controversial bottle return scheme and saying the dualling the A9 and A96 must be a 'top priority' for the government.
“There’s too much focus on new legislation rather than delivering for the people of Scotland,” she said. “I would concentrate on policies that help the economy and create jobs.
“We need infrastructure that will make Scotland safer, more efficient and a better place to live – completing work on the A9 and A96 for example should be a top priority.
“I want to help business flourish rather than hitting them with new rules and regulations, so for example we need to look at things like the deposit return scheme.
"I’m not saying that it can’t be made to work but I would not be forcing it through when it is not ready and ignoring serious and legitimate concerns from business.”
She added: “We need to listen.”
Setting out her plans if she was elected leader, Ms Regan said: “We need a new direction and we need to re-prioritise.
"We need to bring back unity, draw a line under certain things and move past them.
“I believe I am the person to do that. I would not be progressing the GRR Bill, it’s caused a lot of division, it’s extremely flawed and I wouldn’t want it to take up any more time.
"The electorate expect the Scottish Government to focus on things that are important to them. That means the NHS which is still struggling to get back on its feet after the pandemic.
“People expect a First Minister to concentrate on boosting the economy, creating jobs and helping them deal with the cost of living crisis.
"Those are the things people are concerned about right now and I think that’s what the government and the parliament should be concerned with.”
