Doris calls for apology to elderly over Labour scaremongering

The SNP Government has today unveiled the conclusion of its review of the concessionary bus scheme in Scotland which sees the concessionary fare scheme completely maintained and funding for the Bus Services Operators Grant increased under a £740 million funding deal with the bus industry.

The SNP Scottish Government and the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) agreed the detail of the scheme with enhanced support for keeping fares affordable whilst improving the bus network and introducing incentives for bus companies to run low carbon and hybrid buses.

In a move likely to be welcomed by veterans groups, injured service personnel will be amongst those eligible for the concessionary fare scheme after 1st April 2011.

Glasgow Labour politicians caused outrage last year when they claimed the SNP was set to remove the scheme. Scottish National Party MSP Bob Doris has now called on Glasgow’s Labour MPs and MSPs to atone for their scaremongering.

"Labour should realise that when trying to make a mindless party point they also scare some of the most vulnerable in society. The concessionary bus scheme is a lifeline for elderly and disabled people and now that scheme is rightly being extended to cover our war brave.

"I commend the Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson , for sticking to the task in hand and I now think it’s time for Glasgow’s Labour lot to come clean. The people of Glasgow didn’t elect them and pay their wages just so they could go about scaring the life out of Glasgow’s most vulnerable inhabitants.

"This is shocking behaviour from an increasingly desperate Labour Party. As the general election looms, voters will be judging the parties on the substance of their policies and their record in delivering them. The contrast is sharp between a Labour Government in London slashing Scottish spending and the SNP Government in Edinburgh prioritising and extending social provision in these difficult times."