Dave Thompson MSP

Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson has hit out at Highland Lib Dem Danny Alexander for failing to support a Westminster motion that would have helped to bring down soaring fuel prices in Scotland.

Despite Mr Alexander's repeated pledges before the General Election to do all he could to bring down fuel prices, when the matter was in front of him for the first time at Westminster on Tuesday, he voted with the Conservative led Government to defeat an SNP / Plaid Cymru motion to stabilise prices.

Although all Lib Dems and the majority of Labour MPs either followed suit or abstained, the SNP motion was supported by a handful of Labour MPs who could not bring themselves to vote against a measure that would reduce prices for their constituents.

Speaking after Tuesday's Westminster vote, Mr Thompson said: "When he was desperately trying to convince as many people as possible to lend him their support, Danny Alexander spoke very eloquently about why high fuel prices affect his constituents disproportionately and why steps must be taken to end the situation where they are paying some of the highest prices at the pump anywhere in Europe, despite living beside the continent's largest oil reserves.

"Yet now we have seen how much he can be trusted to act on those promises. When faced with a chance to take action to help his constituents, Danny did exactly the opposite - some decided to abstain to bring down this motion but Danny had to go further and vote against it."

SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie condemned Scottish Lib Dem MPs for voting against fuel price action, and blasted the 38 Scottish Labour MPs who abstained in the vote for failing Scotland.

The SNP and Plaid Cymru dedicated their annual Opposition Day debate to demand the Conservative-led government fulfil its pre-election pledge to establish a fuel duty regulator. The debate was the only opportunity for MPs to discuss fuel prices ahead of the Budget in March and the planned fuel duty increase in April.

Commenting, Mr Hosie said: “Scottish MPs who voted against fair fuel prices, or did nothing and abstained, should be named and shamed for letting their communities down.

“When the country is crying out for action, Lib Dem MPs voted with the Tories against bringing fuel costs down, while 38 Scottish Labour MPs could not be bothered to even turn up. It is a total disgrace, and that is why fuel prices will be such a key campaigning issue for the Holyrood elections.

“Westminster’s failure is a key illustration of why we need to build up Scotland’s Parliament, and equip it with the full powers of financial responsibility.

“It is simply unacceptable that in energy-rich Scotland, motorists and businesses are facing pump prices that have reached over #1.40 a litre in some areas.

“Coupled with the UK Government's recent VAT rise, these record fuel costs are putting a huge and unnecessary amount of pressure on our communities and on vital sectors of the Scottish economy, and risk choking the recovery that the SNP Government is building in Scotland."