Moray MP Douglas Ross has challenged SNP Moray MSP Richard Lochhead to stand up to his colleagues and back plans to dual the A96 across the region.
Douglas says the deal between the SNP and the Greens threatens the full dualling of the A96 in the years ahead.
At a briefing on Tuesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was asked about her party’s commitment to dual the road in full. However, she highlighted Green plans to carry out an environmental impact assessment ahead of any planned improvements.
That was despite SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford saying on Monday that the dualling would go ahead as promised on safety grounds.
Now Douglas says Moray’s SNP MSP representative must put his constituents ahead of his party when it finally comes to making the urgent improvements needed for the A96.
Commenting, Douglas said: “The SNP are already bowing to the influence of the hardline Greens, who wish to put an end to major road projects such as the dualling of the A96.
“A failure to make these much-needed improvements on this critical route would have hugely damaging consequences for the economy here in Moray.
“Richard Lochhead has a prime opportunity here. He should put his constituents above his party and demand his SNP colleagues fully commit to dualling the A96.
“Motorists in this region were promised by Nicola Sturgeon that the desire of her nationalist allies in the Greens wouldn’t see any watering down of commitments to improve the A96.
“She is already backtracking on that promise. Richard Lochhead must urgently make it clear to Moray motorists and businesses if he will be putting the area’s needs before the interests of the coalition of chaos his party is now part of with the Greens.”