First Minister John Swinney Elgin visit: SNP ‘committed’ to A96 dualling
SCOTLAND’S First Minister has promised that the Scottish National Party is “committed” to the dualling of the A96.
John Swinney visited Elgin and Buckie on Saturday, June 1, as the campaign gets up and running ahead of July 4’s UK General Election.
In Elgin, Mr Swinney was met by a group of around 50 supporters and local party members, to whom he gave a three-minute speech.
Speaking afterwards, he explained his priorities for the Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency.
He also underlined the SNP’s commitment to dualling the A96 at Keith, after previous First Minister Humza Yousaf gave a “cast-iron guarantee” on the upgrades.
“The dualling of the A96 is a major priority,” he said. “The government is committed to that project, but we have particular tests with have to do in relation to climate compatibility.
“I expect the procurement of the Moy to Tomatin stretch of the A9 to be completed soon and that will enable us to continue the progress made on dualling the A9.
“We have made significant progress on the Nairn bypass and the dualling of the A96 between Inverness and Nairn. That’s progressing as people would expect.
“So there is a lot of investment coming into these communities that are designed to boost connectivity in all parts of Scotland
“There are other issues surrounding housing. That’s a fundamental issue in so many communities in the north of Scotland.
“I want to make sure we take the right approach to Just Transition and work carefully and collaboratively with the oil and gas sector to make sure it is able to be fiscally sustainable.
“Those are some of the issues but I’m determined to make sure the government I lead focuses very strongly on stimulation of economic growth and I want to see that in the north of Scotland.”
Mr Swinney was also pressed on the Moray maternity issue. The maternity services at Dr Gray’s in Elgin have been significantly downgraded, meaning that the majority of women are giving birth in either Inverness or Aberdeen.
“There is a necessity to do all that is possible to support the safe delivery of maternity services in communities,” he said.
“In some circumstances it is clinically correct and appropriate for babies to be delivered in either Aberdeen or Inverness.
“But we want to make sure opportunities are available for maternity care to be delivered within the community.
“Some of the challenges are to do with the availability of staff. One of the things that has damaged the availability of people is Brexit.
“It has brought real damage and difficulty, coupled with the financial constraints we operate with because of the austerity inflicted on us by the Conservative Government.”
Also on the agenda was backing SNP candidate Graham Leadbitter’s campaign for the Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey seat.
Mr Leadbitter added: “This is a hugely important seat for us to win. We have had a Conservative MP for the last few years and frankly we need to see the back of him and the Conservatives in Scotland so we can get more progessive politics into Westminster.”
