Politics

LESS than 0.5 per cent of the A96 dualling's price tag has been pledged – as internals emails reveal "removal" of funding details from report.

From taxes to roads to fees, we take you through some of the main points of the £602 million budget.

MSP Emma Roddick was invited to talk to the HNC Social Sciences and NC Social Science level 6 classes at UHI Inverness.

Edward Mountain warns expectant mothers could travelling 'to Aberdeen or even Perth if the situation at Raigmore isn’t sorted out.'

People will face the impossible dilemma of being too old to work and too young to retire, says our columnist.

Raymond Bremner says an extra £60 million would go ‘some way towards us being able to invest in important capital projects.’

The timetable for the election of a councillor to represent a vacant Highland Council seat in the Inverness South ward has been confirmed.

But alongside potentially unwelcome proposals there are ambitions plans in the budget like developing a 'sustainable' bus service.

Council leader Raymond Bremner said: 'It has been our priority to protect jobs and services wherever possible.'

Since 2011 only one piece of land has been bought by the Scottish Government as part of the development of the A96 Nairn bypass.

My biggest fear when being asked to take up a position in the government was that it would take away time in the region, says our columnist.

But there is little information on roads spending as the £602.5 million budget seeks to plug a £65 million blackhole.

Hear what the First Minister had to say about his election priorities – and how critics have responded.

HUMZA Yousaf has denied that the Scottish Government scrapped the 2030 target for dualling the A96 more than three years ago.

Folk are still struggling with the cost of living, rising rent and mortgage costs, compounded by stagnant wages, says our MP.

Councillor Helen Crawford says asking 'teachers to mark more generously' is 'just a big sticking plaster.'

Far north councillor Karl Rosie has joined the Highland Independent group on the local authority, saying he wants to "put people before politics".

MSP Emma Roddick met with the Highland Violence Against Women Partnership to learn about the work they are doing to prevent gender-based violence.

Providing council-owned & managed allotments across the Highlands must be included in the local authority's latest review, the region's Greens argue.

THE promise to dual the A96 by 2030 was quietly dropped more than three years ago, we reveal, despite the Scottish Government keeping quiet.