A senior politician has come under fire from rivals after urging motorists to continue their campaign against controversial safety measures for the A9.
Highland MP Danny Alexander has been accused of “grossly irresponsible” behaviour and “undermining” the work of the A9 Safety Group. After a bid to stall the works along the 138-mile route between Dunblane and Inverness failed, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury warned the battle was far from over.
He said: “We have to keep campaigning because I don’t think these speed cameras will have the safety benefits and they’ll make things worse on the A9.
“It is one of the many things that the Scottish Government is doing in the Highlands which people don’t want.”
Mr Alexander has been heavily criticised for his response.
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Dave Thompson accused him of “putting votes before saving lives”.
“This is grossly irresponsible of Danny Alexander. He is sending out a very foolish message and trying to undermine the potential implications of speeding on the A9 as set out by the partners of the A9 Safety Group, including Police Scotland,” he said.
“Mr Alexander is wrong in his assertions about average speed cameras and is desperately scrabbling around for issues to support his re-election next year.
“He is anxiously politically posturing in an effort to save his job, but in effect is actually putting votes before saving lives on the A9.”