A Highlands and Islands MSP has warned that Scotland’s rural economy will be put at risk if the Scottish Greens are given the opportunity to influence the Scottish Government.

Scottish Conservative MSP Donald Cameron issued his warning after a letter was sent last week by a dozen organisations including gamekeepers and moorland groups to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warning a SNP-Green deal would ‘tear apart’ rural jobs.

Mr Cameron said: “Essentially the Scottish Greens are an urban-based party with little interest or understanding of what makes rural Scotland tick.

“It’s no wonder so many rural organisations have expressed their alarm at the talks between the Greens and SNP, leading to the very real possibility of the Greens exerting even more influence over government policy.

“We simply cannot afford to lose jobs and livelihoods in often fragile coastal and rural communities where there are few, if any, alternative sources of year-round employment.

“Rural Scotland must not be sacrificed to the political interests of the SNP, who failed to win a majority in May, and are now left scrabbling around for the support of a fringe party like the Greens.”