MSP wants bridge deal wait

EDINBURGH'S West Liberal Democrat MSP Margaret Smith is calling for the awarding of the contract for the new Forth road bridge to be delayed until after the Holyrood elections.

She has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament warning that rushing the contract for such a major project could lead to problems.

She said: "We are all only too familiar with the difficulties loopholes in contracts can cause because of the tram project.

"This is a huge scheme with a massive budget and we cannot afford to get it wrong.

"To make announcements about such a big project during the dissolution period has also raised suspicions of electioneering by the SNP.

"If the contract is awarded it will signal a break with a tradition which has prevented such concerns being an issue in previous campaigns.

"If the SNP try to rush these contracts through for electoral advantage, people will see through political posturing."