By Bill Heaney
Scottish Labour has challenged the SNP to pledge that their Councils won’t hit workers with “bombshell” parking charges after the election, especially during the cost of living crisis.
The Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie has called on them to rule out introducing a Workplace Parking Levy scheme anywhere across Scotland as Scottish Labour have pledged none of their Councils, will introduce such scheme.
The SNP and the Greens charged
Trains, buses and cars – people should not have to pay more for public transport.
ahead with the controversial Commuter Tax earlier this year, despite warnings about the charges hitting workers during a cost of living crisis.
Local SNP manifestos for Scotland’s two biggest cities have included pledges on the scheme, prompting fears about how many more SNP Councils may use these new powers.
The Edinburgh SNP manifesto promises to introduce the tax, while the Glasgow SNP manifesto includes a pledge to “develop a business case” on the scheme.
Scottish Labour have pledged that none of their Councils will introduce such a scheme after the May elections, and are now urging the SNP to do the same – describing any failure to do so as a “betrayal”.
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said: “Workers across Scotland are struggling to make ends meet during this cost of living crisis, and now the SNP want to make workers cough up hundreds of pounds for the privilege of going to work.
“There must be a cast-iron commitment from the SNP that none of their Councils will plough ahead with these reckless plans.
“If they fail to rule this out it would be a gross betrayal while people are staring down the barrel of a cost of living crisis.
“No Scottish Labour Councils will implement this damaging scheme – instead, we will fight for capped bus fares, cheaper rail fares and a joined-up public transport system that gets you where you need to go.
“Vote Scottish Labour to elect a local champion who will fight to tackle the cost of living crisis – not make it worse.”
West Dunbartonshire Labour group leader, Councillor Martin Rooney, pictured right, said: “My West Dunbartonshire Labour colleagues and I are determined to help our residents during the cost of living crisis and not to make them pay extra to go to work with this unfair commuter tax.
“That is why, if we are elected to run West Dunbartonshire Council, we won’t introduce this levy.
“There are far more constructive ways of encouraging people to travel more sustainably. This is certainly not one of them.”