Labour MPs, MSPs and councillors have all challenged the SNP Government to reverse its 10p tax on Edinburgh bus users.
When fuel duty rose by 2p in October, Gordon Brown announced a special rebate for public transport operators in order to keep fares low as the price of fuel rose. In England this means no fares increased.
In Scotland, Alex Salmond and the SNP who received their share of the additional money, worth £7.5 million, chose to spend it elsewhere - leaving Scottish bus users to pick up the bill.
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Knowing that the SNP’s 3 year budget has no contingency plan for rising fuel costs, Labour activists formed the Short-Changed Campaign, which takes to the streets and bus stops of Edinburgh this Friday.
Ricky Henderson, Edinburgh Labour’s Transport Spokesperson said: "Bus passengers in Edinburgh will be puzzled as to why they’re paying more tax on their bus fares than people in England. It’s just not fair. It was so easy to find a £1 coin for the bus, but that extra 10p is total hassle and is leaving 1000s of bus users across Edinburgh short changed."
Nigel Grifffiths MP said: "Alex Salmond cares more about banqueting in Bute House than Bus fares in Edinburgh. That’s where the money has gone - pomp and ceremony instead of public services. He simply must release the money to reverse this SNP Tax on bus users now."
George Foulkes MSP said: "It is Alex Salmond and the SNP’s arrogance and complacency which is forcing Edinburgh fares up. Only too aware of rising fuel costs, Gordon Brown gave the nations extra money in the form of a fuel duty rebate so that bus operators could keep fares low. Alex Salmond got the cash but didn’t bother to pass on the money - now bus fares are rising for the first time in years and were all paying the price."
