The Scottish Government has been accused of making “a sham of democracy” amid claims it is preparing to “ignore” a parliamentary vote against its plans to scrap the Highlands and Islands Enterprise board.
Opposition MSPs united to defeat the controversial proposals in a Holyrood vote earlier this week.
But that result is not binding – and Scottish Labour’s rural economy spokeswoman Rhoda Grant has raised concerns the government “is ready to ignore the democratic decision of the parliament”.
She pointed to comments made by Economy Secretary Keith Brown, who said he would wait until the outcome of a review by HIE chair Professor Lorne Crerar before revising his plans.
The government insists its proposal, which would see the HIE board subsumed into a national body, will help the agency improve its current work.
And Mr Brown accused Ms Grant of “overblown scaremongering” over the future of HIE and demanded she apologise.
He also insisted he would be happy to meet opposition MSPs to “discuss the way forward”.
However, Highlands and Islands MSP Ms Grant responded: “It is incredibly disappointing the SNP is ready to ignore the democratic decision of the parliament.
“Instead, ministers have said they will wait until Professor Crerar, the government-appointed chairman of HIE, has completed his review.
“It is absolutely wrong that someone appointed by the Scottish Government is going to have the last say on this and the future of HIE.
“It makes a sham of democracy that the Scottish Government can so blatantly ignore the will of parliament.”
MSPs voted against the plans by a margin of just one on Wednesday night.
A spokesman for Mr Brown countered: “These claims are simply untrue – we have made clear we will listen to what parliament has said.
“And Mr Brown will also be happy to meet representatives from all parties to discuss the way forward, as we consider how best to shape HIE for the future.
“Labour should now apologise – both for misleading on what we have said, and for joining the Tories in their overblown scaremongering about the future of HIE, which will remain in place, delivering for communities across the Highlands and Islands.”
