HIGHLAND MP Danny Alexander has announced a £3 million boost to fund projects in Inverness.
Money from the Treasury will be used to help help kickstart the Highland Council's plans to provide high-speed wifi across the city centre.
Mr Alexander, who is tipped by many, even some within his own party, to lose his Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey seat which he holds with a 9000 majority in May's election.
He has previously been accused of "pork barrel politics" after taxpayers' money was spent on local projects from saving the London to Scotland sleeper to protecting local ski lifts.
But the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has forcefully maintained he has simply been defending and promoting his own constituency as any good MP would do.
The latest grant comes after £100,000 was earmarked for the Highland Council to help it accelerate its plans for a City Deal.
The City Deal project will also boost tourism by transforming access to Inverness Castle, in time for the opening of a new visitor viewing platform at the top of the castle's North Tower in Spring 2016.
Mr Alexander said: "A strong Inverness is central to the prosperity of the whole of Scotland. That's why I've been working both within the Treasury and with the Highland Council to ensure that Inverness gets the City Deal it needs, to boost tourism and its strength in the sciences and create secure, long-term jobs for people across the city.
"While completing the full City Deal will take more time, it's great to secure these projects now. They demonstrate the UK government's commitment to this process."
Highland Council Convener Jimmy Gray added: "This is excellent news for Inverness and indeed for the whole region. A city-region deal would be transformational for the Highlands and a significant investment like this gives us confidence that we have a very bright future ahead."
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