Letter from Mike Robb to "Inverness Courier" (19^th. December ’09 ) regarding Danny Alexander’s article in the "Our Man in Westminster" column (15 December ’09)

In the "Our Man in Westminster" column, Danny Alexander MP argues for a Fair Deal for the Highlands.

I am sure we all agree with that aim, but the specific proposals he then outlines seem to fly in the face of LibDem policy on public spending.

From the SNP government in Edinburgh, he demands £20 million of additional spending to compensate for the freeze on Council Tax.

From the Labour Government at Westminster he seeks the writing off of Council Housing Debt and a reduction in fuel duty for rural areas.

I note that he puts a cost to the public purse on neither.

All three issues need some new and radical thinking and I’ll be happy to debate my own ideas with him in due course.

But Danny Alexander is being two-faced by arguing for more spending for the area he represents, whilst his party – of which he is a senior member – is demanding major cuts in public spending at a national level.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has already called for "bold and savage cuts" in public spending.

As his Chief of Staff, Danny Alexander must surely be aware of his party’s policy.

He is, after all, responsible for writing the LibDem election manifesto!

At the LibDem party conference in September, Danny Alexander himself moved the motion which stated "Any new spending should be paid for by a specific cut made elsewhere, to ensure it is deliverable in these tough economic times".

Will Danny Alexander therefore tell us which Highland, Scottish or UK budgets will be cut to pay for the extra – and unquantified - spending he demands?