Former first minister in call for action on lay-by

FORMER first minister Jack McConnell has accused the SNP of failing to carry out any improvements to the A82 on Loch Ness-side.

Lord McConnell was campaigning in Invermoriston yesterday with Linda Stewart, the Labour candidate for the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency.

He claimed the SNP had made no progress in the last four years of the Scottish Government on schemes to enhance the trunk route, which he described as vital for local residents, businesses and tourism.

Lord McConnell, who was first minister between 2001 and 2007, also said he was shocked the popular Wellington lay-by at the loch had been shut for more than two years. The Inverness Courier is running a Get it Sorted campaign for the lay-by to be reopened for the benefit of tourists and locals.

Mr McConnell stepped down as Labour’s Scottish leader shortly after the party lost the last Scottish Parliament election and retired last month as an MSP. He now sits in the House of Lords.