Edinburgh residents among 'forgotten 12 per cent' excluded from £2 bus fare cap, say Lib Dems
‘People in Edinburgh face the same cost of living pressures as people elsewhere in Scotland’ - Cllr Kevin Lang
Residents in Edinburgh are set to be among a “forgotten 12 per cent” of UK citizens who do not benefit from a £2 cap on bus fares, Lib Dems have claimed.
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a £2 maximum for single bus fares across England from January.
And in Scotland, First Minister John Swinney pledged during the Holyrood election in May that the current year-long trial of a £2 cap in the Highlands, Moray, Argyll and Bute and the Northern and Western Isles would be extended to Glasgow, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde within the first 100 days of a new SNP government.
Scottish Lib Dems said that meant around 61.3 million people - 88 per cent of the UK population - would soon be covered by a £2 bus fare cap. But around 8.4 million people, including residents in Edinburgh, would be left out of the scheme.
And they called on the Scottish Government to rethink its plans and allow people in Edinburgh to enjoy the benefits of the scheme at the same time as everyone else.
Edinburgh Lib Dem transport spokesperson Kevin Lang said: "People in Edinburgh deserve better than being part of the forgotten 12 per cent when it comes to the £2 cap on bus fares.
"Thousands of people across our city rely on buses every day to get to work, school, college and hospital appointments. They face the same cost of living pressures as people elsewhere in Scotland, and in many cases the cost of living in the Capital is even higher.
"There is no good reason why people in Glasgow, Manchester, London and Newcastle should benefit from a £2 fare cap while people in Edinburgh are left behind.
"The Scottish Government should urgently rethink its plans and ensure Edinburgh is included from day one of the nationwide rollout."
Transport Scotland said the planned nationwide rollout of a £2 bus fare cap would include Edinburgh.
A spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government introduced a £2 bus fare cap pilot across the Highlands and Islands earlier this year.
“The pilot is a clear demonstration of the Scottish Government’s commitment to making bus travel more affordable and improving access for low-income communities in rural areas. It is one of a range of measures being taken to support households affected by rising everyday costs.
“Work is ongoing with partners, including operators, to progress a £2 bus fare cap to Glasgow, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde within the first 100 days of this government.
“We are also committed to bringing forward legislation for a £2 bus fare cap across Scotland by the end of this parliament, building on the evidence from the current pilot.”