The SNP have presided over delays totalling more than 100 years on “vital” infrastructure projects across Scotland, the Scottish Conservatives can reveal today.
Analysis by the party shows that the SNP’s failures to deliver major projects on time has resulted in 115 years’ worth of delays across the country.
The “staggering” findings come as the party campaign in the Dumfries and Galloway constituency where they will show their backing for the A75 and A77 trunk roads to receive major upgrades.
Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy will join the party’s local candidate John Cooper and say it is rural areas like Dumfries and Galloway that are “bearing the brunt” of SNP failures.
The party’s research also highlights the 10-year delay in fully dualling the A9, the seven years-and-counting in failing to deliver lifeline ferries for Scotland’s islands and being six years behind schedule in delivering a new prison in the Highlands.
Local candidate John Cooper has also slammed SNP leader John Swinney for failing to deliver on a 2016 manifesto promise to fund a £6 million redevelopment of Stranraer waterfront.
Scottish Conservative Chairman Craig Hoy MSP said: “Our delays dossier exposes the SNP’s litany of broken promises on vital infrastructure projects across Scotland.
“The staggering findings highlight how rural areas like Dumfries and Galloway are bearing the brunt of the nationalists’ failures.
“That neglect is shown by the SNP’s total lack of investment in key trunk roads such as the A75 and A77. That has a damaging impact on the local economy, including the port at Cairnryan which connects this area to the whole of the UK.
“In key seats like Dumfries and Galloway, up and down Scotland, it is a straight fight between the Scottish Conservatives and the SNP. If voters unite behind us, then we can beat the SNP, and ensure this area has a local champion as their MP, someone focused on their real priorities like making the A75 and A77 fit for purpose.”
Scottish Conservative Dumfries and Galloway candidate John Cooper said: “Having grown up and lived and worked locally, I have witnessed the ongoing neglect by the SNP of these crucial roads.
“We are Scotland’s forgotten corner and have been abandoned by the central belt-focused SNP Government.
“John Swinney himself promised eight years ago that millions would be delivered to redevelop Stranraer waterfront but shamefully the money has never materialised.
“As MP for Dumfries and Galloway I would be fully focused on people’s real priorities like exploring how we can fully dual the A75 and A77 and bringing fresh investment and jobs to this part of Scotland, compared to a SNP MP who would only be pushing for independence.”