A96 challenge issued to Fiona Hyslop by Moray politician Douglas Ross

Scotland’s transport secretary has been challenged to drive the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen and has been accused of “running scared”.

Moray politician Douglas Ross, MSP for the Highlands and Islands, dared SNP minister Fiona Hyslop to travel the full length of the road to see what locals experience on a daily basis.

The challenge was issued after Ms Hyslop revealed that she had not travelled on the A96 since May this year, in response to a written question from Mr Ross.

In fact, the last time she used the road was while travelling to the Build a Nairn Bypass event - hosted The Northern Scot’s sister paper The Inverness Courier on May 31.

Conservative Mr Ross says it is “astonishing” that the SNP transport secretary has not been on the road in over six months.

He added that communities in Moray and the north east feel that the SNP do not understand the reality facing them.

“Fiona Hyslop is clearly running scared of communities along the A96,” Mr Ross said.

“It is astonishing that she has not been on the road that links two of Scotland’s biggest cities in over six months.

“She must have hated the grilling she rightfully received the last time she was up in our area, that she hasn’t bothered coming back since.

“That is typical of the SNP’s contempt for rural Scotland.”

The question was submitted after a Holyrood statement in which the transport secretary confirmed that the A96 would not be fully dualled by 2030 - breaching a pledge made in 2011.

However, a Transport Scotland spokesperson claimed that the government’s plans have not changed, and a final decision on proposals to abandon full dualling is dependent on the ongoing consultation.

Mr Ross argued: “They have shamefully abandoned their pledge to fully dual the route by 2030, without understanding the reality facing these communities on a daily basis.

“The anger among them will only grow in light of Fiona Hyslop’s response to my question.

“I will continue to challenge the SNP at every turn to fully dual the A96 which the Scottish Conservatives are fully committed to.

“I urge local people to sign our petition calling on the SNP to dual the road from Inverness to Aberdeen to improve motorists’ safety and boost our local economy.

“This response just proves Fiona Hyslop simply is not interested in Moray and the North East.

“That’s why I’m now urging her to travel North and drive the entire length of the A96 from Inverness to Aberdeen to see what local people have to face on this road on a daily basis.

“I can think of no good reason why the SNP Transport Minister would refuse to do this and I look forward to hearing about her experiences on the road.”