Two angry Highland MSPs pull out of A9 'publicity vehicle' for Danny Alexander
Independent Highlands and Islands MSPs Jean Urquhart and John Finnie have withdrawn from Danny Alexander’s “Highland Infrastructure Forum” discussion group on the future of the A9 .
They said they have done so after it was presented in the media as being made up of campaigners against average speed cameras.
Both MSPs have said they are firmly in favour of the cameras, which they believe will save lives on the notoriously dangerous road.
In a joint letter to the Strathy and the Ross-shire Journal, Jean Urquhart and John Finnie said: “We agreed to take part in the ‘Highland Infrastructure Forum’ after Danny Alexander presented it to us as an effort to gather ‘a wide range of opinion’.
"But the first time the group appeared in the media, its members – including us – were described as ‘leaders of a campaign battling to block the A9 average-speed cameras’.
“The one-hour-long first meeting of the group includes a 20-minute press conference. That shows what the priority of the ‘Forum’ really is.
“Of course we were aware of the risk that Alexander’s group would simply be a publicity stunt for his own campaign, but real discussion is important enough that we gave it the benefit of the doubt.
"Unfortunately, a publicity stunt is exactly what it turned out to be.
“The A9 is one of the most notorious roads in the country. On average, one in three cars on the A9 is speeding, making collisions more likely and more deadly. Average speed cameras will save lives.
“The only people who have anything to fear from average speed cameras are those intent on breaking the law and risking lives.
“We are both 100% behind this measure to make the A9 safer. We’ll discuss this issue with anyone, but we won’t be used to whitewash an MP’s publicity campaign.
"We won’t be taking part in Danny Alexander’s project.”
The group is due to meeting tomorrow.
Mr Alexander did not want to comment.
His spokesman said: “We are aware of the comments made to the press, but will not be commenting on it publicly.
"Mr Alexander will speak to Mrs Urquhart and Mr Finnie directly on the matter and looks forward to a very productive meeting of the forum.”
In an earlier interview with the Strathy yesterday however, the MP said he wanted the forum to be a platform for discussion about a wide range of infrastructure issues, including dualling of the A9.
He said: “This is a genuine attempt on my part to move this debate forward. I do not want to try and impose my own views.
"I think it is important to have a forum which is for different parties to come together. We can get a sense of what the consensus view is in the Highlands. It’s an attempt to try and get people to work together.
"There are a lot of people with different views. The more the Highlands can speak with one voice through a forum that meets and discusses those issues the better.
"I have found over the years we have had to work very very hard to get our views listened to in Edinburgh The more that we can work together the better."
