Fergus Ewing privately pleaded with a Cabinet colleague for a multimillion-pound Highland road scheme to be given the go-ahead before the election.
Correspondence released under freedom of information laws shows how Mr Ewing lobbied Transport Secretary Michael Matheson for approval of the Nairn bypass in his constituency.
He wrote to him on February 1 to warn of “widespread concern” about delays to the congestion-busting initiative – and asked if the pair could meet “to see if any further progress can be made this side of purdah”.
Transport Scotland announced the approval of the long-awaited scheme 18 days later.
The work, which was the subject of a public inquiry in 2018, involves dualling 19 miles of the A96 road between Inverness and Nairn, as well as a bypass of the town, although questions remain over its timetable and funding.
Purdah
Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative leader and Moray MP, said the memos showed that Mr Ewing had “desperately wanted to pacify angry locals ahead of the purdah period later this month”.
The pre-election “purdah” period will follow the dissolution of the Scottish Parliament on March 25, after which the government cannot make major announcements in the run up to the May 6 vote.
I would ask if there is any prospect of finalising your decision on the reporters recommended course of action prior to purdah.”
Fergus Ewing
In his correspondence to Mr Matheson on the Nairn bypass, Mr Ewing said: “I would ask if there is any prospect of finalising your decision on the reporters recommended course of action prior to purdah.”
The rural economy secretary, who is the MSP for Inverness and Nairn, added: “If a decision were taken, for example, to approve the preferred route, then that would come as a huge boost to the people in my constituency who have, alongside myself, sought and campaigned for a bypass for decades now.”
The SNP said Mr Ewing was “doing the job the people of Nairn and the wider constituency elected him to do”.
Public inquiry
A public inquiry on the scheme was held in 2018, and Mr Ewing said the reporters had sent their findings to ministers in October 2019.
The approval of the Nairn bypass work was confirmed just days after the entire A96 dualling scheme was plunged into doubt.
The dualling of the route between Aberdeen and Inverness had been targeted for completion by 2030, but the Scottish Government’s latest infrastructure investment plan envisages just £20 million of the £3 billion A96 project being spent between now and 2025/26.
I am pleased to see following a Public Local Inquiry held in 2018, that Scottish Ministers have given the go-ahead for completing the statutory procedures for the A96 dualling Inverness to Nairn – including the Nairn Bypass – scheme.
— Fergus Ewing MSP (@FergusEwingSNP) February 19, 2021
Mr Ross has been one of several politicians who have written to Mr Matheson, seeking assurances over the future of the A96 scheme.
The Scottish Tory leader said: “The release of this correspondence confirms the SNP just want positive headlines in advance of the election to deflect from their terrible record in government.
“Fergus Ewing desperately wanted to pacify angry locals ahead of the purdah period later this month.
“If he had shown the same urgency since the SNP came to power 14 years ago, he might not have had to ask for this announcement days before the election campaign kicks off.
“We need a government in Scotland that delivers on its promises all year round – not just when polling day is approaching.
“My party colleagues and I were stonewalled when we made repeated attempts to speed up the process of delivering road improvements for people in Moray and the Highlands.
“And despite the belated announcement of progress on the Nairn bypass, we still don’t know if the A96 or A9 dualling will be completed on schedule.”
Mr Ewing was doing the job the people of Nairn and the wider constituency elected him to do.”
SNP spokeswoman
An SNP spokeswoman said: “Fergus Ewing has been campaigning for nearly three decades for a bypass for Nairn, and was writing as the constituency MSP in response to representations made to him by his constituents.
“In other words, Mr Ewing was doing the job the people of Nairn and the wider constituency elected him to do.
“The Nairn bypass announcement shows the SNP is – in government and at local constituency level – determined to deliver for the people of the Highlands and right across Scotland.”
‘A huge milestone’
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “Design work is well under way for the Nairn bypass.
“The scheme is a huge milestone in our plans to dual the A96, as part of our investment in infrastructure in the Highlands.
“When completed, the A96 dualling programme will bring many benefits to local communities, businesses, visitors and road users living, travelling and working along the corridor including reduced journey times, improved journey time reliability, improved road safety and opportunities for active travel.”
