Alex Salmond took the campaign to Highland constituencies yesterday, visiting Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, then Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, before visiting Inverness.
Campaigning for a fair deal on fuel prices – including a cut in rural fuel prices on mainland Scotland – Alex Salmond said: "The Lib Dems have hit the north of Scotland with a triple whammy, they have failed to cut rural fuel prices on the mainland, their hike in VAT is adding to price rises across the region and with their ill-thought-out tax on Scotland's North Sea oil industry they are putting thousands of valuable jobs in jeopardy.
"A 1p cut to fuel duty makes little difference in rural communities. The SNP has long called for a rural fuel discount on the mainland and a vote for the SNP at this election will remind the Lib Dems that they should keep their promises to Scotland's rural communities."
The SNP's Brian Adam has criticised the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Tavish Scott, for his comments on The Daily Politics. During the programme, Mr Scott emphatically backed tax changes proposed for the North Sea by the Tory / Lib Dem government in London after previously criticising the plans.
“Tavish Scott and Danny Alexander in the Treasury are making a laughing stock of the Lib Dems on this issue," Mr Adam said.
“With three oil companies already putting major project developments and thousands of jobs on hold this is an incredible position.
"People in the north of Scotland know the importance of the oil industry to the local economy and they expect their politicians to support the industry not sacrifice its potential."
Former Liberal Democrat MSP John Farquhar Munro – who served as MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West from 1999 until stepping down at the end of the last parliament – has made a statement supporting Alex Salmond's bid to secure a second term as first minister of Scotland.
Complimenting Mr Salmond's devotion to Scotland, he said, “I consider Alex Salmond is the only one who can lead us through the next session of parliament ensuring a more prosperous and sustainable future, and that is why I'm pleased to support Alex Salmond as the first minister for Scotland in the next parliament.”
Welcoming Mr Munro’s support, Mr Salmond said: “John Farquhar Munro is hugely respected, and has an outstanding record as a selfless champion of his constituency, the needs of the Highlands, and Scotland’s interests. I greatly value John’s opinion. This is a personal endorsement, but he speaks for many across the Highlands of Scotland.”
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